Environmental damage reported in U.S.-Israeli war in Iran

The ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel in the Middle East has resulted in significant environmental damage, according to reports regarding the war in Iran. Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, has warned of increasing pollution, specifically noting oil contamination in the Persian Gulf that is reaching Iranian shores.

A report by the Conflict and Environment Observatory indicates that by March, there were more than 300 documented incidents of potential environmental harm across 12 countries in the region. The observatory noted that “all parties to the conflict” appear to have targeted environmentally risky areas.

Efforts to monitor the ecological impact have been complicated by a satellite blackout. The U.S. government has reportedly requested that major commercial satellite companies restrict or delay the publication of Middle East data, a move that has hindered the ability of observers to track the full extent of the environmental devastation.