“It’s not for us to determine if a strike was aimed directly at that facility or a facility next to it,” says Ian Clarke, who is directing WHO’s response to the war in the Middle East.
“It’s an attack on health, and the onus is on the people who are pursuing a conflict to actively protect civilians and to protect and take the measures to ensure that the health facilities are not impacted.”
“Any attack on health care is a breach of international law,” he adds.
The US has previously said it does not target civilians and takes its obligations seriously.
The BBC has verified footage of several damaged hospitals, including the 17-story private Gandhi hospital in Tehran, close to the headquarters of the state broadcaster which was the target, a Red Crescent hospital in the town of Mahabad in western Iran, and a hospital in the southern port of Bushehr, from which babies in incubators were seen being evacuated on 3 March.
Just weeks after they tried to save the lives of injured protesters, doctors working in public hospitals are stretched and “extremely exhausted”, according to Iranian surgeon Dr Hashim Moazenzadeh.
He is now based in France, but has been in touch with former colleagues in Tehran.
“The bombs being used are extremely large and we have a very high number of civilian casualties,” he said.
Making an urgent plea, he added: “If you’re bombing near places like hospitals, you have to prioritise their safety and protection.”