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> some civilians have been injured when Iran attacked the hotels where US agents were stationed

Surely the US are using civilians as human shields?

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Yes, they are absolutely using civilians as human shields. Just like Israel has been doing for ages.

That is why they constantly lie about Hamas using human shields. Every accusation is a confession with these people.

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Like Iran placing a girls school on the grounds of a military base?

They had years and years to correct the open source maps and inform the world at large about the presence and location of the girls school, but didn't?

Imagine being a parent of such a child, being informed enough to understand what the regime aspires to (ballistic nuclear missiles), and what a large number of nuclear powers think about this. If you are that parent, would you be happy with your child being sent to a school on the grounds of a military base? They risk being the first casualties in war. Obviously, in this fun society of Iran, these parents had no choice, for if they did, they would insist their children go to a different school. The victims you complain about, are indeed victims, but first and foremost victims of Iran's regime, its against the statutes of Rome to use human shields.

A hotel is not a military target, a military complex is.

I do think international law is up for some modernization with regards to human shields etc. An improved law (that recognizes the existence of open source maps) could mandate every nation to mark the locations of schools etc.

If however you place the school as a human shield (war crime), and mark that shield on an open map, such international law should legitimize war unless a deadline to move the school is met.

If a military complex is not marked as having a childrens school, while in fact there is, then its a war crime too.

Then there will be no silly forum discussions on who's fault these casualties are, the goal of regulation is to prevent misery, not to point fingers afterwards.

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The mullahs and IRGC are not famous for their compassion or kind-heartedness.

They are infamous for fulminating against liberals, plotting to kill enemies, torturing and hanging dissidents from cranes, persecuting minorities and women, funding terror cells, and fleecing their citizens to enrich themselves.

Many of the comments here suffer from a misguided refusal to be impressed by the regime's reputation, as though anyone the American establishment criticises must automatically be righteous.

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>from a misguided refusal to be impressed by the regime's reputation

You have to thank the actions of the genocidal State of Israel that anything below it is somewhat acceptable. Reaping what they sow themselves.

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That's not particularly enlightening, to be frank.

People always ask here why the community flags every post on these issues. Comments like this are why. Hardly anyone on this site knows even basic information on the nations involved.

If I were in charge of HN, I'd geoblock anyone from commenting on the Middle East who isn't at an IP from the Middle East. I wouldn't be able to comment either, but at least there might be enlightening information in the comments.

That said, the first page of any reputable history on Iran/Israel relations would go over 1979, when Israel went from friend of Iran to foe, based on Khomeini's interpretation of Islam.

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> Reaping what they sow

Israel and Iran somewhat independently came to the conclusion that they’re the regional hegemon, and that protecting that position is worth any cost.

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I would see this war as the end of a string of wars initiated by Iran through Hamas in October 7.

This left Israel similar to the USA post 9/11 or Peal Harbor. On a streak to make it never happen again in a very decisive/brutal way. Hegemony wasn't the moving factor for Israel, at least until very late in the war, and due to the same reasons

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> the end of a string of wars initiated by Iran through Hamas in October 7

Locally, yes. Iran not condemning those attacks was a fuckup.

More broadly, this is the Levant versus Persia, a power contest as old as civilization.

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