Mainstream media outlets reportedly used the phrase «war crime» nearly three dozen times in the first three weeks of the Iran conflict, but 88% of that usage was directed toward the U.S. or Israel, according to an analysis released by a U.S.-based, Mideast-focused media watchdog.

CAMERA, the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis, and its research manager, David Litman, released a study Wednesday counting 32 uses of the term «war crime» from the BBC, CNN, NBC News, The New York Times and The Washington Post.

In his review, Litman asked readers to consider how the term «war crime» has been applied in reporting on the conflict, noting that simple internet searches return usages «almost exclusively» against the U.S. and Israel.

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«CAMERA found 32 total applications of the phrase ‘war crime’ during the first three weeks of the war (Feb. 28-Mar. 21). Of those, 28 (88 percent) were directed solely toward the actions of the United States and/or Israel,» Litman wrote on CAMERA’s website. 

«Zero were directed solely toward the actions of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Four (12 percent) were unattributed or directed at both sides.»

CAMERA found nearly all references stemmed from an airstrike early in the conflict that allegedly destroyed a school in Minab, Iran. The Pentagon is continuing to investigate the incident, according to CAMERA.

«Several of the other allegations refer to the sinking of an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean in what can assuredly be classified as a lawful attack,» Litman wrote.

The analysis also contrasted that usage with events that have not been labeled «war crimes» in CAMERA’s findings.

The group cited cluster bombs fired by Iran, many of which hit populated areas in Israel and elsewhere.

«While cluster munitions are not universally banned, using them to target populated areas almost certainly constitutes a war crime,» the analysis found.

CAMERA also pointed to Iranian strikes that hit energy and other key installations in nations not officially engaged in the conflict, such as Kuwait and Bahrain.

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The analysis found that, among the mainstream media sources examined, the term «war crime» was not applied to these strikes, and if Iran was cited in a war crimes discussion, it was paired with equal criticism of the West.

«This journalistic malpractice inverts reality,» Litman wrote.

George Mason law professor Adam Mossoff commented on the analysis, writing on X that «data analytics confirm huge bias in favor of pro-Islamic regime of Iran by BBC, CNN, NBC and NY Times.»

«These media orgs used ‘war crime’ 32 times in news reports in the first 3 weeks of the U.S./Israel-Iran war. Zero references solely to crimes by Islamic regime, and 88% media uses referred solely to U.S. or Israel.

Iranians set fire to flags of the United States and Israel as they gather to commemorate those killed from the Dena naval vessel, at Enghelab Square March 17, 2026, in Tehran, Iran.  (Getty Images)

«Islamic regime uses cluster bombs against Israeli civilians, shoots missiles and suicide drones at civilian targets in numerous Arab countries not involved in war, fires missiles at holy sites in Old Jerusalem, [but] zero identification of these war crimes as standalone crimes by major Western media organizations. This is shameful.»

Fox News Digital reached out to communications officials at CNN, the BBC, The Washington Post, The New York Times and NBC News for comment but did not hear back by deadline.

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CAMERA was founded in Washington in 1982 by social worker Winifred Meiselman in response to The Washington Post’s coverage of Israel’s incursion into Lebanon and allegations of anti-Israel bias.

Early advisors included Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa; former Sen. Rudy Boschwitz, R-Minn.; and former Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., according to its website.

La electricidad estática se manifiesta en situaciones tan cotidianas como el cabello erizado al frotar un globo o el leve chasquido al tocar una manija después de caminar sobre una alfombra. Bajo esa apariencia cotidiana, la triboelectricidad —el intercambio de cargas opuestas entre materiales— representa un desafío persistente para la física experimental, que aún no ha logrado desentrañar plenamente su funcionamiento.

Este fenómeno ocurre cuando dos materiales entran en contacto y luego se separan, generando cargas opuestas en cada uno. Aunque la explicación completa de su mecánica sigue sin resolverse, la física ha reconocido la triboelectricidad como un proceso en el que abundan las incógnitas.

Mientras la mayoría de las personas vincula la electricidad estática a simples curiosidades domésticas, los científicos la identifican como un fenómeno en el que los mecanismos fundamentales permanecen en gran parte desconocidos.

Incertidumbre sobre el mecanismo de la triboelectricidad

Durante aproximadamente los últimos tres siglos, la física experimental ha intentado establecer qué ocurre exactamente cuando dos materiales se ponen en contacto y después se separan. Está confirmado que uno de ellos adquiere una carga positiva y el otro, una carga negativa. Sin embargo, los detalles sobre el proceso —el “cómo” y el “por qué”— siguen sin respuesta clara, a pesar de la ubicuidad cotidiana del fenómeno.

En el centro del interés científico reside la siguiente cuestión: ¿qué es lo que realmente se transfiere entre los materiales? Algunas de las principales hipótesis, formuladas por investigadores en física de materiales, sugieren la transferencia de electrones, iones e incluso fragmentos microscópicos de materia. Sin embargo, experimentos llevados a cabo bajo condiciones idénticas pueden mostrar resultados diferentes o contradictorios, lo que indica la posible existencia de factores desconocidos.

Los expertos han denominado este proceso triboelectricidad, término derivado del griego por “frotar” y “ámbar”. A pesar de contar con tecnología de última generación en laboratorios especializados, los físicos no han logrado ofrecer una explicación universal.

Avances recientes y factores que influyen en la carga eléctrica

Investigaciones recientes lideradas por equipos de física de materiales han comenzado a aportar claridad. Un descubrimiento relevante, demostrado por el físico del Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Austria Scott Waitukaitis, mostró que dos objetos idénticos pueden cargarse de manera distinta dependiendo de cuántas veces han interactuado entre sí anteriormente. Este hallazgo respalda la hipótesis de una cierta memoria superficial en los materiales.

Otro descubrimiento proviene de investigaciones que identificaron cómo partículas invisibles pueden adherirse a las superficies de los materiales. Estas diminutas moléculas ricas en carbono, presentes en el aire, pueden modificar la dirección del intercambio de carga. Al eliminar estas moléculas mediante calor, se observó que el comportamiento eléctrico cambia significativamente, mostrando que los factores ambientales pueden ser determinantes.

Además, las investigaciones han comprobado que variables como la velocidad del contacto, el área de impacto o la ruptura de enlaces químicos juegan un papel fundamental. En ciertas colisiones, la creación de condiciones químicas propicias permite el intercambio de electrones. Aunque estas novedades no resuelven todas las incógnitas, han permitido enriquecer la comprensión de la triboelectricidad.

Un estudio publicado por el propio equipo de Waitukaitis reveló que, al modificar las condiciones superficiales y ambientales, como la presencia de moléculas contaminantes o la humedad, se pueden obtener resultados radicalmente diferentes en experimentos idénticos. Este hallazgo obligó a reconsiderar la idea de que el comportamiento eléctrico depende únicamente de la naturaleza intrínseca de los materiales.

Desafíos en la comprensión y aplicaciones tecnológicas

Lejos de simplificarse, el conocimiento sobre la electricidad estática ha demostrado que su comportamiento varía en función de numerosos factores y condiciones. La antigua noción de una “serie triboeléctrica” fija ha sido puesta en duda. Cada interacción resulta de una combinación compleja de variables.

El interés por descifrar completamente estos mecanismos tampoco es exclusivo del ámbito académico. Una comprensión profunda podría transformar tecnologías emergentes, como el desarrollo de nanogeneradores triboeléctricos, que convierten el movimiento en electricidad y permitirían alimentar sensores y dispositivos portátiles sin baterías convencionales. Además, este conocimiento es esencial para mitigar descargas peligrosas en entornos industriales o para explicar fenómenos eléctricos en otros planetas, como las tormentas de polvo en Marte.

Origen histórico y evolución científica del fenómeno

La historia de la electricidad estática se remonta a la Grecia antigua, cuando se advirtió que el ámbar frotado atraía objetos ligeros. A lo largo de los siglos, este fenómeno ha acompañado a la humanidad como una curiosidad recurrente. Por mucho tiempo, la electricidad estática fue considerada una rareza doméstica, hasta que los avances científicos la transformaron en objeto de estudio especializado.

Actualmente, la electricidad estática ocupa un lugar de permanente interés en la física experimental, donde cada avance abre nuevas preguntas y amplía el alcance de la investigación científica.

The White House pushed back hard Friday amid a news report that Todd Lyons, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has been hospitalized at least twice for stress-related issues with the Trump administration that left him visibly upset and strained. 

The pushback came following a Politico report that said Lyons was hospitalized at least twice for stress-related issues while carrying out President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda. 

The stress has left Lyons unable to carry out key decisions, the report states, citing two current and two former administration officials, who were unnamed. 

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«He would be visibly upset and struggling to make the decisions that were needed to be made by the director,» one former unnamed official told the news website. 

«Trash reporting from a trash «reporter» pushing tabloid b*******in an attempt to divide and distract. Todd Lyons is an American Patriot,» the White House Rapid Response X account said in response to the story. 

The episodes were attributed to pressure from above for Lyons to ramp up deportations and from top adviser Stephen Miller, who allegedly yelled at Lyons during morning phone calls with administration officials, Politico reported. 

«This is b******* and more of the trash that Daniel Lippman has peddled over the years in the name of clicks and clout,» Miller’s wife, Katie Miller, wrote on X in response to Politico reporter’s story. 

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said Politico was given «on record» denials prior to the story being published. 

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White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller speaks during the inaugural Americas Counter Cartel Conference at the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) headquarters in Doral, Florida, on March 5, 2026. (Eva Marie UZCATEGUI / AFP via Getty Images)

«Shame on Politico for publishing such inaccurate trash,» Jackson wrote on X. «Todd Lyons is an American patriot who has worked tirelessly to undo Biden’s disastrous immigration policies that wreaked havoc on American communities. And the American people are deeply appreciative for his hard work making our country safer. Despite multiple on record denials and sources refuting their pathetic ‘reporting’ and *still* ran with this absurd article.»

The reported hospitalizations took place over several months. In one incident, Lyons was driven to a hospital by his security detail and he was admitted overnight. 

In September, Lyons became distressed that ICE agents were unable to locate an illegal immigrant in Los Ángeles during a ride along with top administration officials. 

One of his bodyguards took a portable defibrillator from a nearby government office to Lyons in case he needed medical intervention, the report said. 

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons speaking at a press conference at the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse in Boston on June 2. (Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

After heated calls with Miller, Lyons expressed frustration that the White House was often mad at his agency, according to the current official and former official who heard such comments.

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«Todd, Stephen, and the entire White House team have a great working relationship and coordinate closely to deliver on the president’s many promises,» White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement. «Todd Lyons is an American patriot who has worked tirelessly to undo Biden’s disastrous immigration policies that wreaked havoc on American communities.»

Fox News Digital has reached out to ICE and Politico.