Could US Hit Iranian Civilian Infrastructure? Pete Hegseth's 'Disingenuous Question' Reply

Last Updated:June 11, 2026, 05:20 IST

Pete Hegseth did not directly address the legal implications of such attacks.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth declined to directly answer whether attacks on civilian infrastructure in Iran could amount to war crimes, dismissing the question as “disingenuous" after Washington launched a fresh round of strikes on Iranian targets.

Speaking outside US Central Command (CENTCOM) headquarters, Pete Hegseth was pressed by reporters about the legality of potential attacks on infrastructure such as bridges and electrical facilities amid the escalating conflict with Iran. A reporter asked whether targeting civilian infrastructure could constitute a war crime if the United States were to strike such sites during its ongoing military campaign.

“If the response is in hitting bridges, electrical infrastructure, how would that not be a war crime, potentially targeting civilian infrastructure?" the reporter asked.

Pete Hegseth did not directly address the legal implications of such attacks.

“Well, it’s precisely the kind of disingenuous question that I’m used to from the media, impugning the motives of the folks on our side who are incredibly professional and incredibly effective," he said.

Instead, the US Defence Secretary stressed that US operations were focused on achieving military objectives and degrading Iran’s capabilities.

“We will hit them hard on our terms, on the targets that improve the environment for us to operate in, and undermine the capabilities that Iran wants to have," Pete Hegseth said.

His remarks came after the United States carried out a new wave of strikes against what he had earlier described as “key Iranian facilities." Before the operation, Pete Hegseth said the attacks would be “strong" and were intended to increase pressure on Tehran as diplomatic efforts remained stalled.

The latest strikes are part of an intensifying confrontation between Washington and Tehran that has seen both sides exchange military attacks in recent days. The escalation followed Iranian actions against US military assets and subsequent American retaliatory strikes inside Iran.

Under international humanitarian law, parties to a conflict must distinguish between military objectives and civilian objects. Attacks directed at civilian infrastructure may be unlawful unless the facilities are being used for military purposes, while strikes expected to cause excessive civilian harm relative to their anticipated military advantage can be prohibited.

Pete Hegseth did not specify whether any civilian infrastructure had been targeted in the latest operations, nor did he provide details about potential future targets.

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