Armed Conflict • International Law
Law of Armed Conflict/IHL
1,649 Articles
OLC’s Formal (and Remarkably Broad) Defense of the April Syria Strikes
This morning, the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel posted a formal, 22-page opinion, concluding that the April 13 airstrikes on Syria were lawful.
The Technicolor Zone of Cyberspace – Part I
Two leading experts on cyber law analyze the U.K. Attorney General's major speech on international law and cyber, delivered at Chatham House last month.
Understanding the Fog of Law: Enduring Ambiguities in International Security Law
The international law governing national security and war is plagued by several critical ambiguities. When can states lawfully resort to armed force? What are the constraints on…
Analysis of Israel’s Supreme Court Decision Allowing Lethal Force in Gaza
On May 25th 2018, the Israeli Supreme Court rejected, in a unanimous decision of a three judge panel, a petition by a group of NGOs which challenged the legality of the Rules of…
With New U.S. Arms Sale Pending–What Happened to Saudi Assurances on Civilian Casualties in Yemen?
To get an arms sale past Congress last year, Saudi Arabia promised $750 million to prevent civilian casualties in Yemen. The civilian death toll has since risen.
United Kingdom Att’y General’s Speech on International Law and Cyber: Key Highlights
On Wednesday, the United Kingdom’s Attorney General, Jeremy Wright, QC MP, gave a speech at Chatham House on the role of international law in cyberspace. It is the first official…
Gaza and Israel: What Do Calls for “Restraint” Really Mean?
International reactions to the violence that erupted this week on Gaza’s border with Israel have taken shape around a somewhat familiar refrain – a call for restraint. …
Collectivizing Threat: An Analysis of Israel’s Legal Claims for Resort to Force on the Gaza Border
The aim of this article is not to vindicate one narrative over the other or to pass judgment on specific factual claims, which must be thoroughly investigated. It also doesn't…
The Latin American View of Jus ad Bellum
For the past few weeks, Rebecca Ingber, Elvina Pothelet, Priya Pillai and I have been engaged in the task of systematizing State reactions to the April 14 air strikes carried out…
Does the U.S. “Deliberately Misinterpret” the Laws of War?–A Response to Gabor Rona
I recently wrote about problems in the Pentagon’s procedures for post-strike civilian casualty assessments in places like Iraq and Syria. Gabor Rona’s letter-to-the-editor,…
Letter to the Editor: Much More Iceberg Below the Surface on Civilian Casualties
[Editor’s note: Ryan Goodman responds to Gabor Rona in a follow-on piece.] Ryan Goodman makes a compelling case that the United States undercounts its civilian casualties.…
AI-4-Good in War
The United Nations campaign entitled #AI4good highlights positive ways artificial intelligence (AI) can be used for the good of humanity. The #AI4Good Summit in Geneva this week…