New York, March 27: Human Rights Watch, a US-based advocacy group, on Friday termed the recent Pakistani airstrikes on a rehabilitation centre in Kabul as “an unlawful attack” and warned that the incident could amount to a possible war crime, raising serious concerns over civilian safety and adherence to international law.

On March 16, Pakistan launched airstrikes on the 2,000-bed Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul that killed hundreds of civilians and injured several others.

The rights body called on the Pakistani authorities to conduct a swift and impartial investigation into the incident and ensure accountability for those responsible.

“The available evidence indicates that the Pakistani airstrike against a well-known Kabul medical facility, killing dozens of patients, was unlawful. Pakistani authorities need to carry out an impartial investigation to determine why it hit a drug treatment centre filled with civilians and who should be held to account,” said Patricia Gossman, senior associate Asia director at HRW.

Citing an employee at the facility, the HRW said that over 1,000 patients were at the rehabilitation centre in Kabul at the time of the attack, but the actual number is uncertain. The rights body added that an official with an international agency said that many patients were in the dining area to break the Ramadan fast.

The United Nations highlighted the “complete destruction of one block that housed adolescents receiving drug treatment”.

On March 17, Pakistan’s federal minister of information and broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, posted on X, stating that Pakistan had carried out “precision airstrikes” on “technical support infrastructure and ammunition storage facilities,” but did not mention the Omid facility.

The HRW said that based on available information, there was no evidence that the Omid centre was being used for military purposes, making the attack “unlawfully indiscriminate”.

“In any case, the attack would appear to violate the prohibition against disproportionate attacks. Serious violations of the laws of war committed with criminal intent—that is, deliberately or recklessly—are war crimes,” it noted.

Pakistan, the rights body said, has an obligation under international law to investigate alleged “war crimes by its forces and bring those responsible for serious abuses to account. ”

Amid the escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the HRW cited the UN figures documenting at least 76 civilian deaths and 213 injuries from Pakistani airstrikes across Afghanistan.

“Concerned countries should press Pakistan to provide genuine accountability and ensure that failures in intelligence, target verification, and decision-making are identified and fixed so such strikes never happen again,” Gossman said.

Tehran, March 27: Iran has issued an “ultimatum” to hotel owners in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, warning that hosting US military personnel could make their properties legitimate military targets, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

Fars reported that US forces have taken refuge in regional hotels following Iranian missile strikes and joint operations with allied militant groups that targeted American military infrastructure across the Middle East. The warning covers any facility hosting foreign military personnel and takes effect immediately if such activity continues, Xinhua news agency reported.

The report also claimed US personnel have established a presence at civilian sites across the region, including a logistics base near Beirut’s old airport and advisory operations at Damascus’ Republic Palace, the Four Seasons, and Sheraton hotels. US Marines were reportedly moved this week to Djibouti International Airport via Istanbul and Sofia.

Earlier on Thursday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned hotels in Gulf Arab countries against accepting US military personnel, accusing the soldiers of fleeing their bases and using civilian sites as cover.

“From the outset of this war, US soldiers fled military bases in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) to hide in hotels and offices. They use GCC citizens as human shields,” Araghchi wrote on the social media platform X. He compared the situation to hotels in the United States, which he claimed deny bookings to officers who may endanger customers, and urged Gulf hotels to adopt the same practice.

On February 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities, killing Iran’s then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior military commanders, and civilians. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes against Israel and US bases and tightened control of the Strait of Hormuz, blocking vessels affiliated with Israel and the United States.

Abu Dhabi, March 26: One Indian national was killed and another injured as two people died and three suffered injuries after the debris of a ballistic missile fell in UAE’s Abu Dhabi on Thursday following a successful interception by the country’s air defence systems.

“As part of the ongoing follow-up to the previously reported incident caused by falling debris following the successful interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems, the incident has resulted in the deaths of two individuals of Pakistani and Indian nationality, and in injuries ranging from serious to moderate sustained by three individuals of Emirati, Jordanian and Indian nationality,” the Abu Dhabi Media Office wrote on X.

“The public is advised to obtain information only from official sources and to avoid spreading rumours or unverified information,” it added.

Earlier in the day, Abu Dhabi Media Office had said that authorities had responded to an incident involving falling debris in Sweihan street after the missile was intercepted by air defence systems.

“Abu Dhabi authorities have responded to an incident involving falling debris in Sweihan street, following the successful interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems. The incident resulted in the deaths of two unidentified individuals, three injuries, and damage to a number of cars. Further updates will be provided in due course,” Abu Dhabi Media Office posted on X.

“The public is advised to obtain information only from official sources and to avoid spreading rumours or unverified information,” it added.

The ongoing conflict in West Asia began on February 28 following the strikes carried out by Israel and the US on Iran, which resulted in the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top military officials. In response, Iran has launched drone and missile attacks targetting the US and Israeli facilities, regional capitals and allied forces in West Asia.

Earlier in the day, UAE’s Ministry of Defence said that its air defences were responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran. It advised people to adhere to the safety and security instructions issued by the authorities.

In a statement shared on X, UAE’s Ministry of Defence said, “UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran. MOD asserts that the sounds heard are the result of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drones.”