© Hormozgan Province Water and Wastewater CompanyUS military air strikes June 10, 2026, have cut off the water supply to 20,000 Iranians in Hormozgan province
The US military's recent airstrikes on a drinking water facility in southern Iran "could constitute a war crime," a 10 June New York Times (NYT) investigation said after an attack by Washington cut off water to tens of thousands of people.
Satellite imagery released and verified by NYT shows the two water structures in Bemani village of Sirik Country in Hormozgan province that were targeted by the US.
The imagery was geolocated and is consistent with the infrastructure Iranian authorities said was destroyed during those US attacks.
"Both [structures] have light blue pipes, typical for water distribution infrastructure," NYT wrote.
"It is unclear if the US intentionally struck the water facilities, or knew what was in the buildings," it went on to say.
The investigation confirms statements from Iranian authorities that GBU-39 bombs may have been used by Washington.
NYT said the damage shown in footage released by Iranian media was consistent with GBU-39 strikes.
Pictures showed how the strike punched a hole right through the roof of one of the two structures.
After the strike, US Central Command (CENTCOM) described its attacks as "self-defense" that was carried out with "precision" munitions.
In response to NYT, a CENTCOM spokesman said he was "aware" of the reports about destroyed water infrastructure, but declined to provide any further information.
The US strikes hit Iran early on Wednesday.
The CEO of Hormozgan province's water and wastewater company announced before NYT released its investigation that the US struck a 500-cubic-meter tank and a 2,000-cubic-meter tank that both played a key role in supplying drinking water to Sirik.
Authorities said the strikes cut off water to 20,000 people living in nearby areas.
"Mobile water tankers brought in water to supply residents while crews built a new service line that bypassed the damaged tanks," Abdolhamid Hamzehpour, the head of the provincial water authority, told NYT, adding that the task was completed within 12 hours.
Iranian forces targeted US bases in the region on Wednesday in response to the attacks that destroyed the facility.
Since then, more US strikes have targeted the Islamic Republic.
Iran carried out retaliatory missile operations targeting key US sites in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan on Thursday.
US President Donald Trump has threatened more strikes on Iran since Tehran's latest retaliation.
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