The Islamic regime’s killing of civilians in drone strikes on Bahrain and Saudi Arabia may constitute a war crime, Amnesty International said on Thursday, publishing new evidence detailing the deaths and serious injuries caused by the attacks.
At least 28 people were killed, and hundreds were injured after Iran launched unprovoked attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, though information on said attacks was largely restricted by those states.
Despite the strict legislation in place, Amnesty shared it was able to investigate two countries attacked by the regime in March, which collectively killed four civilians and wounded at least 12.
The researchers concluded that the Islamic regime likely used Shahed drones in the attack, a relatively cheap weapon able to travel 2,000 km. at low altitudes. These low-altitude flights have largely contributed to its ability to bypass a number of air defense systems.
Researchers found that between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on March 2, two drones struck the MT Stena Imperative oil tanker while it was still in dry dock undergoing repairs at the Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (ASRY) in Al Hidd, Bahrain.
SM Tareq, a Bangladeshi employee of ASRY, was killed, and two other workers were injured. A worker who witnessed Tareq’s death told the NGO, “I saw one of my friends on fire, and he had his brain coming out of his head.”
Family members had reported that prior to his death, Tareq had grown fearful of the attacks and had asked his loved ones to pray for his safety.
“The conflict in the Middle East has had a devastating impact on civilians, with thousands killed and injured across the region. Civilians are paying with their lives in attacks by Iran that must be investigated as war crimes,” said Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa regional director.
“Iranian authorities must immediately stop targeting civilian infrastructure. Those responsible must be held accountable, and victims have the right to justice, truth, and reparations.”
Swedish civilian tanker attacked by Iran
The Stena Imperative is a civilian tanker owned by the Swedish company Stena Bulk.
Media reports suggest that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attempted to strike and seize the ship in February 2026 after it had been contracted by the US Maritime Administration’s Tanker Security Program to move fuel.
However, at the time it was docked, Amnesty said it was a civilian object in a civilian repair yard. It is prohibited by international law to directly attack civilians and civilian objects.
Less than a week after the attack on Bahrain, on March 8, Iran struck a labor camp in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia, at approximately 4 p.m. The attack took the lives of three civilian men and wounded 10 more, with some needing months to recover in hospital.
The victims of the regime attack were civilian workers of Twaik Co., a maintenance and cleaning services company, who were providing general janitor services.
Witness reports, photos, videos indicate Iran’s responsibility for attack
Six witnesses, family members of the victims, as well as photos and videos of the attack’s aftermath, led Amnesty to the conclusion that either Iran or one of its proxies had launched a Shahed drone.
One witness told Amnesty International: “One worker, the blast turned him into pieces, and I could smell him burning. The second worker had his legs broken, and something pierced his head. The third was screaming, ‘Save me.’ Three of them died: two died on the spot, and one was taken to hospital and died there.”
The three Bangladeshi citizens, Musharaff Hussain, 42; Abdullah Mamun; and Bachchu Mia, 35, were killed while preparing to break their fast during Ramadan.
All the witnesses said no military forces, either US or Saudi, were ever in the labor camp prior to the attack, though the IRGC claimed it had targeted a radar system on site. It is likely the regime was targeting the Prince Sultan Air Base, around 15 km. away from the site.
