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Armed Conflict

Just Security’s expert authors provide analysis on the legal, policy, and strategic dimensions of armed conflict, including the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Hamas war, counterterrorism operations, conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa, and other armed conflicts across the globe, with a focus on international humanitarian law, war crimes and accountability, mitigating and remedying civilian harm, and the humanitarian impacts of warfare.

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3,316 Articles
Standing before an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in Monday night, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya fist bumps Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the UN, as US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield and Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations Mona Juul look on. February 21, 2022.

Russia’s “Occupation by Proxy” of Eastern Ukraine – Implications Under the Geneva Conventions

All state parties to the Geneva Conventions now have a role to play via enforcing grave breaches regime.
Feb. 22, 2022
A Yemeni man looks at graffiti protesting against US drone strikes on September 19, 2018 in Sana'a, Yemen.

What I Told Congress about U.S. Lethal Strikes

Congress should take steps to end America’s war-based approach to counterterrorism policy.
Feb. 17, 2022

A Transitional Period Constitutional Question in Sudan

Sudan's military derailed a transition to civilian control in October. The former Minister of Justice takes a deep dive into the legal ambiguity in key founding documents that…
Feb. 16, 2022

Ukraine: Unleashing the Rhetorical Dogs of War

Sending more arms to Ukraine offers false hope and avoids needed compromise, writes Barry Posen.
Feb. 15, 2022
(L-R) Russian Deputy Defense Minister Colonel-General Alexander Fomin, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Ryabkov and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during the NATO-Russia Council meeting at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, on January 12, 2022.  (Photo by OLIVIER HOSLET/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

NATO Must Boost Hybrid Warfare Defenses

As the Russia-Ukraine crisis escalates, NATO must get serious about building resilience against hybrid warfare.
Feb. 15, 2022

In 11th-Hour Diplomacy, US and Europe Try to Stop Putin From Escalating War on Ukraine

Despite the sullen Kremlin attitude so far, there may be more room to advance the diplomatic track with a combination of carrots and sticks.
Feb. 13, 2022
An overhead view of the Pentagon building in Washington, DC.

Clear Error in the Defense Department’s Law of War Manual: On Presumptions of Civilian Status

This article is the first in a new project at Just Security that assesses the U.S. Department of Defense’s Law of War Manual with a goal of providing constructive opportunities…
Feb. 9, 2022
Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (L) speaks with his Belarus counterpart Viktor Khrenin (R) prior to a meeting with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenka in Minsk on February 3, 2022. The United States said on February 2, 2022 it was deploying thousands of troops to bolster NATO forces in eastern Europe, ratcheting up its military response to fears that Russia could invade Ukraine, as tensions have been further aggravated by plans for joint military exercises between Russia and neighboring Belarus, where Washington claims Moscow is preparing to send 30,000 troops. (Photo by MAXIM GUCHEK/BELTA/AFP via Getty Images)

Retired Russian Generals Criticize Putin Over Ukraine, Renew Call for His Resignation

Censors haven't yet blocked the rhetorical attack from the assembly of hardline veterans, giving the message space and time to spread.
Feb. 9, 2022
S. Army (retired) General Lloyd Austin looks forward after being formally nominated to be Secretary of the Department of Defense by U.S. President-elect Joe Biden at the Queen Theatre on Dec. 9, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware.

A Big Step Forward or Running in Place?: The Pentagon’s New Policy on Civilian Casualties

New Pentagon effort to respond to civilian harm is encouraging, but DOD needs to demonstrate leadership, scope the problem correctly, and address the growing credibility gap to…
Feb. 8, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 01: Former Facebook employee Frances Haugen (L) listens during a hearing before the Communications and Technology Subcommittee of House Energy and Commerce Committee December 1, 2021 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The subcommittee held a hearing on "Holding Big Tech Accountable: Targeted Reforms to Tech's Legal Immunity." (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Disinformation, Radicalization, and Algorithmic Amplification: What Steps Can Congress Take?

Ambassador (ret.) Karen Kornbluh proposes concrete steps to curb online extremist content - from requiring transparency to FTC enforcement actions.
Feb. 7, 2022
A view of the entrance to the Court of Cassation (Cour de cassation), one of France's courts of last resort having jurisdiction over all matters triable, is pictured on March 21, 2017, on Ils de la Cite, an island in the River Sein in central Paris . (Photo by THOMAS SAMSON / AFP) (Photo credit should read THOMAS SAMSON/AFP via Getty Images)

La France n’est pas un havre de paix pour les auteurs de violations des droits de l’homme, malgré l’avis de la Haute Cour

This article is also available in English here. Traduction fournie par l’auteur Un avis retentissant rendu par la plus haute juridiction française a semé le doute sur…
Feb. 4, 2022 and
A gray, black, and white aerial image of two compounds surrounded by trees. One building is in the middle of green crosshairs from US video camera.

The Al-Qurayshi Operation and Minimization of Civilian Casualties

US officials’ emphasis on minimization of civilian casualties in an operation against such a high value target deserves special attention.
Feb. 3, 2022 and
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