Retired military officers call Trump’s threats against Iran ‘likely war crimes’

Alarm among military observers after president says ‘whole civilization will die tonight’ if Iran ignores demands

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Donald Trump’s post Tuesday morning threatening that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again” in Iran has raised alarms among military observers and retired officers, who called them “likely war crimes”.

“I have to hope that this is bluster and a negotiating tactic on his part,” said retired admiral Michael Smith, who commanded a carrier strike group in the navy. “He must understand that those types of threats themselves are likely war crimes.”