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Source: https://www.camera.org/article/how-the-media-is-failing-to-hold-iran-accountable-for-war-crimes/
How the Media Is Failing to Hold Iran Accountable for War Crimes
(CAMERA) David Litman - Analyzing the use of the term "war crime" by the BBC, CNN, NBC, the New York Times, and the Washington Post, CAMERA found 32 total applications of the phrase during the first three weeks of the war (Feb. 28-Mar. 21). Of those, 28 (88%) were directed solely toward the actions of the U.S. and/or Israel. Zero were directed solely toward the actions of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran's wartime acts that escaped the media's "war crimes" focus include the over 400 ballistic missiles fired at Israel, half of which were cluster munitions which drop dozens of submunitions over a wide radius of five miles. As of Mar. 22, at least two dozen of these missiles have hit populated areas, with over 100 separate impact sites. Using cluster munitions to target populated areas almost certainly constitutes a war crime. Iranian regime forces have also hit other civilian targets, including multiple hotels and airports in the UAE, and oil and gas facilities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain - countries which did not join the war. Yet, not one of the five news outlets used the phrase "war crime" regarding these Iranian acts. This journalistic malpractice creates a perception of illegitimacy against the U.S. and Israel by associating the word "war crimes" with their actions. Simultaneously, these outlets are creating a perception of legitimacy for the Iranian regime even as it regularly lobs cluster munitions at densely populated cities. Through their imbalanced coverage, these outlets are effectively aiding the Iranian regime toward accomplishing its strategic objectives by distorting reality.