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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3,309 Articles

Trump on North Korea: The Dangerous Impulse to Go it Alone

At Monday’s press briefing, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer was asked whether President Donald Trump would seek congressional authorization before taking military action…

Former Deputy Assist Sec of Defense: “Glaring” “deficiencies” in Saudi Air Force responsible for civilian casualties in Yemen

Looking for an expert’s explanation of why the Saudi airstrikes in Yemen, which are supported by US arms and assistance, repeatedly kill large numbers of civilians? Andrew Exum,…

When Moral Compulsion is Characterized as a Crime of Aggression

As a number of my colleagues have been debating the lawfulness of the United States striking a Syrian airbase with 59 Tomahawk missiles in response to a purported chemical weapons…
Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, women fighters walk to reach a check point in the outskirts of the destroyed Syrian town of Kobane, also known as Ain al-Arab, Syria. June 20, 2015.

Rethinking the Women, Peace and Security Agenda through the Lens of Resistance

The Women, Peace and Security Agenda (WPS) was launched in 2000 with the passage of United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 and had the laudable aim of mainstreaming gender…
An aerial view with a target and an explosive cloud of smoke.

“The Mother of All Bombs”: Understanding the Massive Ordnance Air Blast Weapon

The Massive Ordnance Air Blast Weapon (MOAB, known informally as the “Mother of All Bombs” and formally as the Guided Bomb Unit, or GBU, 43/B) has attracted a great deal of…

Norms Watch: Tracking the Erosion of Democratic Traditions (Apr. 7-14)

Editor’s Note: Welcome to the latest installment of Norms Watch, our series tracking both the flouting of democratic norms by the Trump administration and the erosion of…

Contortions in the UK’s Arms Export Regime—and Costs of the Yemen War

Since the outset of Saudi Arabia’s intervention in Yemen, the UK has demonstrated that it is willing to go to great lengths to maintain its arms sales to Saudi Arabia.  This…

Tracking the White House’s Reasons for Bombing Syria

The Trump administration has offered a handful of reasons why it decided to bomb a Syrian government airfield last week. The Department of Defense says the strike damaged or destroyed…
Surrounded by photographs of victims of yesterday's chemical weapon attack, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol with Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) April 5, 2017 in Washington, DC.

Important New Bipartisan Bill To Advance Accountability for International Crimes in Syria

Following on the heels of last week’s chemical weapon attack in Syria, Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Bob Corker (R-TN), Bob Menendez…
An aerial view of the Shayrat Airfield in Syria with geolocation markers and two circles labeled “Post Strike Areas of Impact”

Apples and Oranges–Obama’s and Trump’s Plans to Strike Syria for Chem Weapons Use

One of the most important policy and legal questions moving forward is whether the Trump administration needs to seek congressional approval for military strikes in response to…
The White House lawn on a sunny day with the White House in the background.

(Apparent) Administration Justifications for Legality of Strikes Against Syria

[Cross-posted at Take Care] The following document has begun to circulate outside the government.  It is said to have been developed within the Administration.  I have not confirmed,…

The Use of Force in Response to Syrian Chemical Attacks: Emergence of a New Norm?

The April 6 cruise missile strikes against Syria in response to its chemical weapon attacks on Khan Sheikhoun have generated considerable commentary on Just Security and elsewhere. …
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