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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3,313 Articles

What the Law of Military Obedience Can (and Can’t) Do–What Happens if a President’s Orders are Unlawful?

A proposal to bring back waterboarding and a “hell of a lot worse.” The possible suggestion that members of the military should intentionally target terrorists’ civilian…

If Syria Strikes Violated International Law, What Arguments Would Be Made for Sentencing the Guilty Parties?

Almost unanimously, commentators across the world have determined that the April 14 strikes against Syria’s chemical weapons capabilities by the United States, United Kingdom…

The First Transfer of a Guantánamo Prisoner By the Trump Administration

On Wednesday, the Trump administration transferred longtime detainee Ahmed al-Darbi out of Guantánamo Bay. Although al-Darbi isn’t going free, this first transfer of a Guantanamo…

Gina Haspel’s Nomination to Head the CIA: Why the Controversy & What is at Stake?

The Senate has recently confirmed Mike Pompeo to be Secretary of State, after Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) dropped his objections and several Democrats indicated that they would support…
A military officer walks from the entrance to Camp VI on June 25, 2013 in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

DOD’s Guantánamo Report: An Opportunity for Detainees Already Cleared for Release

On January 30, President Donald Trump issued an executive order instructing the Secretary of Defense to within 90 days, after consultation with the heads of other relevant…

What Questions Should Congress Be Asking DoD About Civilian Casualties?

The Trump administration is due to submit today two important reports on civilian casualties—one to Congress and one to the public. Here are the questions Congress should be…

Trump Administration’s New Weapons Export Policies Stress Benefit to U.S. Economy

After months of anticipation, the Trump administration recently released a new conventional arms transfer (CAT) policy and a new unmanned aerial systems (UAS) export policy. Both…

An Opportunity for National Security Transparency in the Trump Era

Hartig and Geltzer--who served in the National Security Council, Defense Department, and Justice Department--examine the benefits of transparency in national security policy, what…

Legal Implications of the Defect in Pentagon’s Civilian Casualty Assessments

Goodman supplements his New York Times Op-ed by discussing two legal implications of a flaw in how the Pentagon counts civilian casualties.

Common Article 1 and the U.S. Duty to Ensure Respect for the Geneva Conventions in Yemen

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis meets with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 19, 2017. (DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt.…

State Responsibility for U.S. Support of the Saudi-led Coalition in Yemen

This article is the latest article in our forum on the Yemen crisis and the law. The international law of state responsibility, captured in the International Law Commission’s…

Historic Moment for Liberians: Warlord Sentenced to 30 Years

Above: Mohammed Jabbateh in court. Image: Chase Walker/Civitas Maxima On April 19, a federal judge in Philadelphia handed down one of the most severe penalties ever imposed by…
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