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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3,295 Articles
The Pentagon logo and an American flag are lit up in the briefing room of Pentagon in Arlington, VA.

How the Pentagon Personnel Firings Threaten Our Apolitical Military

This unprecedented purge of the nation’s top brass suggests that Trump may attempt to fill these roles with officers he perceives as loyal.
The photo shows a woman in a heavy red parka, a light purple wool cap and dark gloves standing outside a destroyed house in front of a row of damaged small appliances.

Trump Administration’s Mixed Signals on Russia and Ukraine May Reflect Internal Strategic Clash

Chaotic inconsistencies risk undermining its own approach and suggest splits between “peace through strength” and great-power appeasement.
A fire blazes in a livestock market in the city of Al-Fashir in Sudan. There are yellow and orange flames rising into the sky.

Understanding Sudan’s Conflict by Focusing on Darfur

The city of Al-Fashir is strategically important and represents the crux of Sudan's larger conflict between the SAF and the RSF.
US Marine Corps hang barbed wire

U.S. Military Action in Mexico: Almost Certainly Illegal, Definitely Counterproductive

U.S. military action in Mexico would not only be illegal, it would sabotage Trump’s stated immigration policy priorities and could lead to retaliation against Americans.
A Palestinian camp in Gaza at dusk, illuminated by a small fire.

Trump’s Gaza Plan is Absurd and an Affront to International Law

Beyond complicating the chances of a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the idea undermines core principles of the international legal order and threatens U.S. interests.
Gavel on an old world map

The Resilience of International Law in the Face of Empire

We may be effectively reverting, at least temporarily, to an era of imperial rule. But history has demonstrated that international law has a long memory. Lawyers and historians…
The photo shows the leaders standing at individual podiums arrayed on a small stage in front of flags of each of their countries against a blue backdrop. The foreground shows the backs of the audience.

A Nordic ‘Trump-Mitigation’ Strategy Amid a Return of Power Politics

These Northern European States, with their Baltic neighbors, will play a vital role in supporting Ukraine and defending international law amid the emerging instability of the Trump…
U.S. President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin (L)

Trump’s Endgame for the War in Ukraine

An exploration of how bargains between Trump and Putin may play out in negotiations to end Russia's war, and the consequences for the vital interests of Ukraine.
A poster of the US Agency for International Development, USAID, is stuck to a light pole

The Disastrous Costs of the Foreign Aid Freeze on US Interests in the Middle East and North Africa

The Trump administration's dismantling of USAID poses significant threats to security in the Middle East and North Africa.
Members of the Congolese Red Cross and Civil Protection in white suits with red crosses on their back rest after burying victims of the recent clashes.

As Sexual Violence Surges in Goma, DR Congo, US Aid Remains Crucial

Foreign aid freezes imposed by the Trump administration endanger critical humanitarian programs in the DRC and threaten global healthcare.
The photo shows a worker in a hardhat carrying a long piece of metal debris, as two other workers in hardhats stand to the right in the frame.

Trump’s Ukraine Deal Requires Foreign Aid

As the administration crafts a plan to help Ukraine get Russia to the negotiating table, it must restore vital non-military assistance, too.
A ship carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG)

Restarting US LNG Permitting Brings Geopolitical Benefits and the Potential for Climate Progress

The end of the US LNG permitting pause provides an opportunity to accelerate promising trends in geopolitics, energy security, and environmental progress.
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