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Law of Armed Conflict/IHL

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Plumes of smoke rise following reported explosions in Tehran early on March 3, 2026. The United States and Israel started striking Iran on February 28, killing Iran's supreme leader and top military leaders, and prompting authorities to retaliate with strikes on Israel and across the Gulf. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images)

Over 100 International Law Experts Warn: U.S. Strikes on Iran Violate UN Charter and May Be War Crimes

Over 100 international law experts sign letter on Iran War, UN Charter, and international humanitarian law.
Under a blue and hazy gray sky, a large oil tanker ship emits smoke while sailing the Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf, Iran.

Continuing Crisis in Strait of Hormuz: Why Iran’s Hold is Illegal and U.S. Military Force Alone Fails

Former US Navy Commander, JAGC Mark Nevitt provides a legal and operational update on the Strait of Hormuz crisis, including Iran’s military role and imposition of tolls.
Smoke rises following strikes on Tehran on April 7, 2026. New strikes rocked Tehran on April 7 with Iran showing no sign of backing down as a US deadline loomed for it to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or have its civilian infrastructure "decimated,” according to the US president. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images) /

Reprisals and the Paradox of Trust: Why Threats of Retaliation in the Iran War are Unlikely to Work

Reprisals demand trust between adversaries, yet they often spark escalation. Their ban under international law is both moral and practical.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on March 31, 2026. (Photo by Oliver Contreras / AFP via Getty Images)

The Dangers of Hegseth’s “Warfighter” Ethos

Hegseth may present his version of a warfighter as the paragon of U.S. military power, but for all his talk, he fails to recognize the true strengths of the armed forces.
Shirvan Combine Cycle Power Plant. The power station is located in North Khorasan Province, near the city of Shirvan. (Via Getty Images)

When War Crimes Rhetoric Becomes Battlefield Reality: The Slippery Slope to Total War on Iran

Former JAGs warn that threats to strike Iran’s power plants would violate the law of war and endanger U.S. service members’ legal and moral obligations.
​Wide shot view of a Ukrainian police deminer​ kneeling in a grassy field, using a metal detector to search for explosives in the in the Izyum district of Kharkiv region, Ukraine​. The man has a prosthetic leg.

Ukraine’s Long-Term Landmine Problem

April 4th is the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. It's a sad reminder that it will likely take decades to demine Ukraine.
The U.S. Army’s Precision Strike Missile Increment 1 lifting off (via U.S. Army)

“Precision Strike Missiles” (PrSMs) in Iran War: The U.S. Obligation to Conduct a Legal Review of New Weapons

Leading expert on U.S. legal reviews of new weapons systems discusses Precision Strike Missiles deployed in Iran war.
Military personnel look at a computer screen.

A Feasible Precaution Ignored: AI Targeting Algorithms and the Failure to Recognize Protected Emblems

Ensuring algorithms recognize protected emblems is an achievable first step to protect civilians and prevent future AI-enabled tragedies.
Protesters hold placards outside the Red Cross offices in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on March 31, 2026, during a rally against a bill approved by Israel's parliament that would allow the execution of Palestinians convicted on terror charges for deadly attacks. Israel's parliament approved a bill on March 30, that would allow the execution of Palestinians convicted on terror charges for deadly attacks. (Photo by Zain JAAFAR / AFP via Getty Images)

Statement by Israeli International Law Scholars Concerning Israel’s New “Death Penalty for Terrorists” Law

Leading Israeli international law scholars' statement on how new Israeli death penalty law for certain terrorism crimes "violates basic rules of international law."
Two men stand talking with each other in the foreground as dozens of other men swarm around and on top of a building's ruins, along with heavy equipment apparently meant to be used for rescue or cleanup operations.

In the U.S. Strike on an Iranian School, What a Serious Military Investigation Should Look Like

A U.S. military operation resulting in such a civilian death toll as the Minab school strike in Iran demands a credible, thorough Pentagon investigation.
Three cone shaped flags on poles, Israel, Iran, United States, isolated on a transparent background (via Getty Images).

Expert Q&A: A Targeting Primer on the Iran War

Leading legal experts' Q&A analyzes how the law of armed conflict applies to U.S., Israeli, and Iranian strikes - with a focus on targeting rules and civilian protections.
An aerial view of a graveyard

When Intelligence Fails: A Legal Targeting Analysis of the Minab School Strike

The law of armed conflict demands that we take the Minab school strike seriously to learn, to reform, and to prevent the next failure.
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