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.
3,526 Articles
A US Return to Human Rights Requires Consistency and Self-Restraint in National Security
This week's Egypt arms sales announcement illustrates the failure to practice the values that offer the US its principle source of competitive advantage.
Fulfilling Biden Campaign Pledge on Saudi-UAE Policy Will Require a Full Overhaul
Regular and direct US criticism of Saudi and UAE human rights abuses should be a fundamental part of a Biden administration reassessment.
US Can Restore Leadership on Human Rights by Promoting Accountability in Sri Lanka
The Biden administration should press the UN Human Rights Council for action and impose its own measures, including further sanctions.
Women, Peace, and Security: Is DOD Turning a Human Rights Corner?
The push to protect women and girls in conflict and involve women in security decision-making increases attention to human rights in military operations.
Leaving the War in Yemen: The Mostly Good, the Bad, and the Muddled
An assessment of President Joe Biden's new approach to Yemen, including the remaining uncertainties about the new policy.
To End the Forever Wars, Rein in the Drones
In drawing down the U.S. conventional military footprint, policymakers should resist relying reflexively on drone strikes in its place. Biden has a unique opportunity to chart…
Former UN High Commissioner Pillay Says It’s Time for the Human Rights Council to Act on Sri Lanka
She notes the Sri Lankan government has made clear that it has no intention of pursuing accountability for atrocities committed during the civil war.
Changing the Calculus to Support Peace in South Sudan
If the Biden administration takes concrete steps to counter the incentive structure, the world’s youngest country may finally have a chance at peace.
A Catalogue of Suffering Behind the Calls for Action on Sri Lanka’s War Crimes
Mapping a quarter century of war shows the patterns of violations that demand meaningful and credible truth and accountability processes.
The Human Rights Council Must Establish an Accountability Mechanism for Sri Lanka’s Victims
The record is abundantly clear that the country’s domestic mechanisms lack effectiveness and credibility. This is a gap that the UN uniquely can fill.
Avoiding Collateral Damage on the Battlefield
What are the rules on avoiding harm to civilians in armed conflict and how are they applied in an operational context? A detailed explainer on the processes, technologies, and…
Balancing the US Approach to the ICC
As the Biden administration develops a new direction in American foreign policy, the ICC is also charting a new institutional course.