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Abstract

In April 2024, Israeli airstrikes were directed at the Iranian consulate building located in the capital city of Syria, Damascus. The Israeli-Iranian relationship has escalated significantly, shifting from a diplomatic partnership to severe hostility over the course of almost fifty years. This article seeks to examine the legal implications of the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate building by considering the United Nations Charter and the Vienna Conventions, as well as to analyse the responses of the Iranian government and the international community. This article employed a normative legal research methodology, which involved combining a statutory approach with a detailed case study. The findings of this article indicate that Israeli airstrikes have violated Article 2(4) and 51 of the UN Charter, the provisions of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions of 1977, Article 22(1) of the 1961 Vienna Convention, and Article 31(1) of the 1963 Vienna Convention. This is despite complexities arising from the alleged dual diplomatic and military function of the consulate building which sparks international debate over their purpose and the need for protection. The attack prompted Iran to launch a retaliatory strike and garnered condemnation from the international community against Israel.

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