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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A bus in a US military convoy transporting Islamic State group detainees being transferred to Iraq from Syria moves along a road on the outskirts of Qahtaniyah in Syria's northeastern Hasakah province on February 7, 2026. Iraq's judiciary announced on February 2 that it had begun investigations into more than 1,300 Islamic State group detainees who were transferred from Syria as part of a US operation. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP via Getty Images)

A Legal Black Hole: Does Iraq Have the Right to Detain Prisoners Transferred from Syria?

The Global Coalition Against Daesh faces legal and moral strain over mass detainee transfers from Syria to Iraq, testing international law and policy.
Bronze Lady Justice statue with balanced scales stands beside a wooden judge’s gavel resting on a law book, in front of a stack of legal volumes on a dark background.

When the Warning Bells Ring: Judicial Awareness in War

By heeding the warning bells and embracing a do‑no‑harm principle, international courts can denounce abuse while preserving the credibility of international justice.
US President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev at the "Board of Peace" meeting during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 22, 2026. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP via Getty Images)

Some Questions About Trump’s Executive Order Granting Privileges and Immunities to the Board of Peace

The Trump administration, the Board of Peace, and Congress all should have interests in clarifying the legal basis on which any privileges and immunities are being provided.
This photograph shows the logo of the "Board of Peace" during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 22, 2026. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images)

Establishing the Board of Peace: Key Questions About the Launch of the Trump Administration’s New Peace-Building Initiative

The Trump administration created the Board of Peace to lead Gaza’s reconstruction and global peace-building, raising questions about structure, control, and legitimacy.
Screenshot of the OLC Memo

The OLC Maduro Memorandum: Assisting in War Sustaining Activities is Not Direct Participation in Hostilities

A troubling OLC memo claims civilians aiding “war-sustaining activities” can be lawfully targeted—an unsupported interpretation that weakens civilian safeguards.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gestures while walking away from the International Criminal Court building in The Hague during his first visit to the Netherlands on May 4, 2023.

Assessing the ICC’s Impact in Ukraine

An analysis of the ICC’s warrants against Putin and Lvova-Belova, exploring their real impact on diplomacy, deterrence, and justice in Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing

Five War Powers Takeaways from the Senate’s Venezuela Hearing

The Senate's hearing with Rubio offered little solace to those concerned about the use of force against Venezuela.
Visualization of nuclear risk

In 2026, a Growing Risk of Nuclear Proliferation

In 2026, it is highly likely that countries such as South Korea and Saudi Arabia will move closer to developing the technical means—and political motivation—to build a bomb.
3D rendering of the scales of justice and a wooden gavel on a desk (via Getty Images).

International Criminal Court Intervention in Civil Wars: A Tradeoff Between Atrocity Prevention and Peace

Although ICC intervention does appear to deter atrocities, on balance, its involvement in ongoing civil wars fails to facilitate peaceful settlement in most cases.
(L-R) A general view of the capital Nuuk, Greenland, on March 4, 2025. US President Donald Trump has strained relations with Denmark by repeatedly signalling that he wants control over Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory. (Photo by ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images); U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio listens as U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the media during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago club on January 3, 2026, in Palm Beach, Florida. During the remarks, Trump confirmed that the U.S. military had carried out a large-scale strike in Caracas overnight, resulting in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images); A general view of the capital Nuuk, Greenland, on March 4, 2025. US President Donald Trump has strained relations with Denmark by repeatedly signalling that he wants control over Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory. (Photo by ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images)

Collection: U.S., Greenland, and NATO

Experts examine legal, political, and security dimensions of U.S. policy on Greenland, including U.S.-NATO relations, congressional oversight, and geopolitical implications.  
The US Navy warship USS Sampson (DDG 102) docks at the Amador International Cruise Terminal in Panama City on September 02, 2025. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on September 1, 2025, that eight US military vessels with 1,200 missiles were targeting his country, which he declared to be in a state of "maximum readiness to defend" itself. (Photo by MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP via Getty Images)

Arbitrary Killings or War Crimes? Why It Matters How the U.S. Strikes in the Caribbean Are Categorized

Analysis of U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean and the legal consequences of classifying them as arbitrary killings or war crimes under international law.
Two young men roll a truck wheel away from the camera between two lines of trucks at the left and right of the image.

How the U.N. Can Show Renewed Leadership on Peace Efforts in 2026

To support peace efforts, the U.N. will need to show that it can adapt to the changing world order and not mourn the old order.
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