BBC, CNN, NYT used ‘war crime’ label for US, Israel, watchdog says
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Mainstream media outlets reportedly used the phrase “war crime” almost three dozen times in the first three weeks of the Iran conflict, but 88% of that usage was directed at the United States or Israel, according to an analysis published by a U.S.-based Middle East-focused media watchdog.
CAMERA and research director David Litman, the Committee on Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis, published a study on Wednesday counting 32 uses of the term “war crimes” in the BBC, CNN, NBC News, the New York Times and the Washington Post.
In his review, Litman asked readers to consider how the term “war crime” is used in news coverage of the conflict, noting that simple internet searches return “almost exclusively” uses against the United States and Israel.
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“CAMERA found that the phrase ‘war crime’ was used a total of 32 times in the first three weeks of the war (February 28 – March 21). Of these, 28 (88 percent) were directed solely at actions by the United States and/or Israel,” Litman wrote on CAMERA’s website.
“Zero were directed solely at the actions of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Four (12 percent) made no reference or were directed at both parties.”
An illustration showing the Iranian flag waving above the shattered logos of The New York Times, Washington Post, and CNN (Getty Images; iStock)
CAMERA found that almost all the references stem from an airstrike early in the conflict that allegedly destroyed a school in Minab, Iran. According to CAMERA, the Pentagon continues to investigate the incident.
“Many of the other allegations refer to the sinking of an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, which could certainly be classified as a legitimate attack,” Litman said. he wrote.
The analysis also compared this usage to incidents that were not labeled “war crimes” in CAMERA’s findings.
The group drew attention to cluster bombs dropped by Iran, many of which hit settlements in Israel and elsewhere.
“Although cluster munitions are not universally banned, their use to target populated areas almost certainly constitutes a war crime,” the analysis said.
CAMERA also highlighted Iran’s attacks that hit energy and other important facilities in countries not officially involved in the conflict, such as Kuwait and Bahrain.
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The analysis found that among mainstream media sources examined, the term “war crime” was not used for these attacks, and if Iran was mentioned in a war crimes discussion, it was paired with equal criticism of the West.
“This journalistic malpractice inverts reality,” Litman wrote.
George Mason law professor Adam Mossoff commented on the analysis, writing about X: “Data analytics confirms massive bias in favor of Iran’s pro-Islamic regime by BBC, CNN, NBC and NY Times.”
“These media outlets used the phrase ‘war crimes’ 32 times in their coverage of the first 3 weeks of the US/Israel-Iran war. There were zero references to the crimes of the Islamic regime alone, and 88% of their media use referred solely to the US or Israel.”
Iranians set fire to US and Israeli flags as they gather to commemorate those killed aboard the navy ship Dena at Enghelab Square in Tehran, Iran, on March 17, 2026. (Getty Images)
“The Islamic regime uses cluster bombs against Israeli civilians, fires missiles and suicide drones at civilian targets in many Arab countries not involved in the war, fires missiles at holy sites in Old Jerusalem, [but] These war crimes are not identified as independent crimes by major Western media outlets. It’s a shame.”
Fox News Digital reached out to communications officials at CNN, BBC, The Washington Post, The New York Times and NBC News for comment but did not receive a response by deadline.
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CAMERA was founded in Washington in 1982 by social worker Winifred Meiselman in response to Washington Post coverage of Israel’s attack on Lebanon and allegations of anti-Israeli bias.
Early advisers included Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa; former Sen. Rudy Boschwitz, R-Minn.; and former Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., according to his website.
