The Collateral Damage to Nature: Legal Analysis of Environmental Harm in Iran-Israel Conflicts

¹ Faculty of Law, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
² Faculty of Law, Universitas Jambi, Jambi, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: yordangunawan@umy.ac.id

Abstract

The intersection between armed conflict and environmental degradation constitutes a pressing yet underexplored challenge in international law. This research examines the ecological consequences of modern warfare through the Iran–Israel conflict as a case study. It identifies key forms of environmental harm resulting from military operations, including soil and water contamination, biodiversity loss, and long-term ecosystem disruption. The research further analyzes the international legal frameworks governing environmental protection during armed conflict, with particular attention to the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. It also explores state responsibility for environmental damage and the potential role of international courts and tribunals in addressing such harm. Several barriers to accountability are highlighted, including weak enforcement in conflict zones, evidentiary challenges, and the involvement of non-state actors. These factors reveal significant legal and political gaps that hinder effective remedies for environmental destruction. The paper concludes by recommending stronger legal frameworks, clearer standards, broader accountability for environmental war crimes, and the integration of environmental considerations into military planning and post-conflict recovery. This research contributes to emerging debates on environmental accountability by bridging International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Environmental Law (IEL) within the context of asymmetric warfare.