Berlin: Legal experts for the German parliament have labeled the ongoing conflict waged by the United States and Israel against Iran as a violation of international law, raising concerns about potential legal implications for Germany.
According to Anadolu Agency, a report commissioned by the opposition party The Left indicates that the attacks breach the prohibition on the use of force as outlined in the United Nations Charter. The report argues that the actions are neither justified by self-defense nor authorized by the UN Security Council, thereby putting them in violation of established international regulations.
The 12-page analysis scrutinizes the potential involvement of US military bases in Germany, such as the Ramstein Air Base, in operations against Iran. It considers whether such involvement could result in Germany bearing responsibility under international law for assisting in the conflict. The report states that this possibility “cannot be ruled out, depending on the specific circumstances,” as reported by German news agency dpa.
The analysis further suggests that the indirect use of force could be assessed as a violation, given that US bases operate on German territory rather than on American sovereign soil. The experts drew parallels to a previous parliamentary analysis concerning Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, which concluded that the utilization of Belarusian territory by Russian forces might be interpreted as aiding and abetting.
The extent to which Ramstein Air Base is being used for the attacks on Iran remains unclear. While the base is recognized as a strategic hub for US forces across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, its direct involvement in combat operations has not been publicly confirmed.
Unlike Spain, which has barred the use of two US military bases in Andalusia for attacks on Iran, the German government has not taken similar steps regarding US bases Ramstein and Spangdahlem. Government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius clarified in early March that the operation of military bases in Germany is regulated by international agreements, stating, “For this reason, we will not restrict them.”
Germany’s Foreign Ministry recently rejected allegations that the country was engaging in “acts of aggression” related to the conflict with Iran. Earlier, Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, Iran’s ambassador to Berlin, sought clarification from the German government concerning the potential use of Ramstein Air Base for combat purposes. The Iranian Embassy reported that they have yet to receive a response.