International humanitarian law states that armed attacks on civilian TV or radio stations are prohibited if they are designed primarily to undermine civilian morale or to psychologically harass the civilian population. That is according to Human Rights Watch.
In a statement published today the watchdog goes on to say “although stopping enemy propaganda may serve to demoralize the Iraqi population and to undermine the government’s political support, neither purpose offers the “concrete and direct” military advantage necessary under international law to make civilian broadcast facilities a legitimate military target.”
“The United States needs to explain why the attack against Iraqi TV served a military purpose,” said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch.