As we come up to a week since the United States and Israel launched military operations on Iran, Mines Action Canada continues to be deeply concerned. The conflict is escalating and as always civilians are paying the price for the decisions of a few leaders. With so much happening and so many things changing day to day it can be difficult to keep track of what is going on.

Here is what we are keeping an eye on:

• The safety of our campaign partners and colleagues in the region. We have worked with campaigners in Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Azerbaijan, and other countries in the region for years. They are our friends, so we are watching, waiting and hoping that they stay safe. Some of these people are landmine survivors with limited mobility or vision which increases their risk when living under bombardment or being displaced.
• The human toll. The number of civilian casualties continues to grow, and we are deeply concerned about the loss of life and the injuries being sustained by civilians of all ages. At the time of writing well over 1,000 people have been reported killed across the region including 165 people, mostly children killed in a missile strike on a school in Iran.
• The use of heavy explosives in populated areas by all parties. There are reports of very heavy explosives being used to hit targets within Iran. If used in or near populated areas, it is incredibly likely that civilians will be killed or injured.
• The bombing and shelling of civilian infrastructure by all parties. Whether it is airports, housing, schools, parks, medical facilities or basic utilities, the destruction of civilian infrastructure will have a long-lasting impact on the lives of people in the region. Destroying critical infrastructure can kill civilians if electricity, water and sanitation or medical facilities are impacted, and it almost always forces people to leave their homes and find safer places to live creating a displacement crisis. Destroying cultural sites and heritage make all of humanity poorer.
• Nuclear risks and impact on non-proliferation. The conflict started because the United States and Israel (two nuclear armed states) were worried that Iran would develop a nuclear weapon despite claims that the Israeli and US attacks in June 2025 destroyed Iran’s nuclear programme. Negotiations were ongoing to address Iran’s nuclear programme, but the conflict will be a majority barrier to progress. In many ways this situation can be traced to the dismantling of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or nuclear deal struck with Iran in 2015. The long term impacts on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation are unknown at the moment but no country should have the ability to destroy humanity.
• The reports of AI being used in target selection. Media reports are indicating that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used by both the United States and Israel to select targets for their bombing operations. MAC has long been concerned about the use of AI in this way due to risks of incorrect information, bias, lack of accountability and more. Reports are circulating online of locations in Iran being targeted due to key words in their names such as Police Park or due to old data. MAC is watching these developments closely.
• Explosive remnants of war contamination. The use of a variety of explosive weapons in the conflict will inevitably lead to new contamination with explosive remnants of war. Affected communities will need support for clearing this contamination, risk education to prevent injuries as much as possible and victim assistance for those injured by any accidents.
• Displacement of civilians. A week into the conflict and we have already seen displacement in Lebanon and from many Gulf States. This will continue and intensify as the conflict expands. As many of the countries affected, including Iran and Lebanon, are affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war, displaced persons who do not have local knowledge of dangerous areas will be at increased risk from these dangerous items.
• Environmental damage. The destruction of refineries, industrial areas, and ships at sea all have an environmental impact. Attacks on military installations leave behind dangerous chemicals. Attacks at sea can lead to oil spills and other contamination of the ocean. Our colleagues who are working on conflict and the environment will continue to keep us updated on the environmental costs of this conflict.
• Potential for distraction from other conflicts. With all attention on the Middle East, other belligerents may take this opportunity to escalate their conflicts or carry out acts such as violations of international humanitarian law that would normally result in outrage.
• International Humanitarian Law principles. There are immense questions about the legality of this conflict but beyond that we are watching to see how the countries involved are implementing key international humanitarian law principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution in attack. Thus far, we have seen examples that seem to violate each of these principles whether it is direct strikes on civilian areas (violating distinction), the intensity of the bombing (proportionality) or the perceived lack of consideration for civilians on the ground (precaution in attack).
• The rhetoric being used. The parties to this conflict are speaking about it in a way that is immensely concerning for those of us who champion international humanitarian law. We have seen threats of collective punishment, religious justifications, and questioning of the general understanding that wars should have limits including the US Secretary of Defense claiming that there will be “no stupid rules of engagement.” This rhetoric often leads to horrifying results.

As the conflict in the Middle East continues to expand after one week, MAC will continue to call for actions that will protect the civilians caught in this deadly spiraling war.