Destruction of Infrastructure for the Impact on Civilians is Manifestly Illegal

A detailed legal analysis published on the AI community platform LessWrong by researcher Jeff Kaufman (jefftk) has gone viral for its examination of recent public threats against Iranian infrastructure. The post meticulously dissects statements threatening to destroy Iran's electric plants, oil wells, bridges, and desalination plants to coerce the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. Kaufman argues this constitutes targeting civilian objects for their impact on the population, which the Pentagon's own Law of War Manual defines as a war crime when the civilian suffering is the primary purpose, not a secondary effect.

Kaufman grounds the argument in specific sections of the DoD manual (5.2.2 and 5.6.7.3), contrasting the threatened actions with the legally contentious but distinct NATO bombing of Serbian power infrastructure in 1999. The analysis stresses that the principle of adhering to the Law of War is unconditional, regardless of enemy actions. It concludes by highlighting section 18.3.2 of the manual, which states service members must refuse clearly illegal orders, framing the discussion around the ethical and legal obligations of individuals within the chain of command.