US military tells Iran civilians to stay indoors

The US Central Command has advised people in Iran to remain indoors. They claim that Iranian forces are launching drones and missiles from densely populated areas. In a statement, they warned, “This risky choice threatens the lives of all civilians in Iran because locations used for military actions lose their protected status and might become valid military targets under international law.” Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads CENTCOM, stated, “Iran’s terrorist government is openly ignoring civilian safety by attacking Gulf allies while putting their own citizens at risk.” This message is similar to previous statements from Israel, which accused Hamas of using civilian locations in Gaza for rocket launches. Since the airstrikes began on February 28, Iran has also blamed the United States for targeting civilian infrastructure. BBC Verify has reported damage to a hospital, sports centers, a UNESCO world heritage site, and two schools—one of which tragically resulted in the deaths of 168 people on Saturday morning, according to Iranian officials.