Amiriyah Shelter

The Amiriyah Shelter, also known as Public Shelter No. 25, was a civil defense structure located in the Amiriyah neighborhood of Baghdad, Iraq. The shelter gained international attention during the Gulf War when it was the site of a controversial aerial bombing attack on 13 February 1991. This incident resulted in the deaths of at least 408 civilians, making it one of the most devastating events of the conflict. The shelter was destroyed by the U.S. Air Force using two GBU-27 Paveway III laser-guided "smart bombs". The bombing was characterized as a war crime by Human Rights Watch. The U.S. Department of Defense, however, maintained that the shelter was a legitimate military target, asserting that it was used for military communications. The Amiriyah Shelter stands as a grim reminder of the civilian casualties and the complex ethical issues that arose during the Gulf War.