Tehran: Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei accused the US on Wednesday of 'deliberately' targeting civilian water infrastructure in southern Iran, saying the attack deprived thousands of residents of access to drinking water.

According to Anadolu Agency, Baqaei stated that US forces struck water facilities in Sirik in Hormozgan province. In a post on the US social media company X, he emphasized that the attack destroyed two water reservoirs with a combined capacity of 2,500 cubic meters. These facilities were crucial as they supplied drinking water to more than 20,000 residents across 10 villages in the area.

Baqaei described the incident as a calculated war crime and a flagrant violation of human rights and international humanitarian law, asserting that it was not mere collateral damage. He urged for the US to be held accountable for what he termed as systematic brutal attacks on civilian life-sustaining infrastructure.

The US strikes in southern Iran were reportedly in response to the downing of a US Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz. This incident has led to retaliatory actions from Tehran across the region, affecting areas such as Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.

The recent escalation is part of ongoing regional tensions that began earlier this year on February 28, following Israeli and US strikes on Iran. This has triggered a cycle of military confrontations, retaliatory attacks, and diplomatic disputes, further complicating the situation.

Iran and Israel have also exchanged strikes in recent days, underscoring the fragility of a ceasefire and the challenges faced by regional and international mediators in their efforts to revive diplomacy and prevent a broader conflict.