General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated on Tuesday that the U.S. military conducts thorough legal and operational reviews before striking any target, including amid President Donald Trump’s recent threats to attack Iran’s desalination plants. Although Caine did not explicitly justify the legality of targeting civilian water infrastructure, he emphasized that the U.S. “always strike[s] lawful targets” through careful consideration of civilian risks and legal frameworks.
At a rare Pentagon briefing, Caine described the U.S. joint force—the combined Army, Navy, Air and Space Forces, and Marine Corps—as “the most professional force in the world.” When pressed about the possibility of bombing Iran’s water plants, which provide drinking water for approximately 90 million people, he reiterated the military’s use of established internal review processes, consistent with those applied to Prompt Global Strike missions.
The general’s remarks came shortly after President Trump issued a public warning via his social media platform to potentially destroy Iran’s electric plants, oil wells, Kharg Island facilities, and desalination plants if Tehran did not allow commercial traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Trump described these strikes as retribution for the deaths of U.S. soldiers and others at the hands of Iran’s government over its 47-year rule.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the president’s stance on Monday, asserting that the U.S. would always act within legal boundaries despite the provocative threats. She downplayed concerns about potential violations of American criminal law and international treaties, stating the administration expects an agreement to avoid military conflict.
Why it matters
Targeting Iran’s civilian water infrastructure could contravene the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits attacks on civilian systems essential for a population’s survival. Such actions risk being classified as war crimes under both U.S. and international law. The U.S. criminal code allows for severe penalties, including life imprisonment or death, for those committing war crimes, underscoring the gravity of any decision to strike civilian targets.
Background
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital chokepoint for global oil shipments, and tensions between the U.S. and Iran have escalated amid disruptions to commercial navigation and ongoing nuclear negotiations. The Trump administration has repeatedly warned of military action to secure passage and pressure the Iranian regime. Prompt Global Strike is a military doctrine enabling rapid, long-range precision strikes without reliance on forward-deployed troops.
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