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.
3,544 Articles

Another Airstrike in Kunduz, and More Civilian Deaths
Once again, airstrikes targeting insurgent leaders in Afghanistan have killed and injured dozens of civilians. On the morning of April 2, Afghan government forces attacked the…

U.S. Federal Statute on Aiding and Abetting: War Crimes in Yemen – Part II
This piece is the second of two on U.S. operations in Yemen and the War Crimes Act, and the latest article in our forum on the Yemen crisis and the law. In September 2017, Ryan…

Civilian Casualties and Effectiveness of U.S. Drone Strikes in Yemen
This is the first of two articles on U.S. counterterrorism operations in Yemen. It also the latest in a new series we are producing in partnership Columbia Law School’s Human…

The US, the War in Yemen, and the War Crimes Act – Part I
Editor’s Note: This is the third piece in our forum on the Yemen crisis and the law. The United States has conducted extensive airstrikes in Yemen since 2011, against both al-Qaeda…

An Athens and Sparta Alliance: A Call for Collaboration Between Academics and Practitioners on the Law Governing Conflict
The Assad regime appears to have again used chemical weapons, this time around eastern Ghouta. This war crime and violation of the law of armed conflict (LOAC) is yet another example…

Somalis Harmed by Suspected Drone Strikes Demand Accountability
This article is the latest in a new series we are producing in partnership Columbia Law School’s Human Rights Institute that features the voices of experts and advocates from…

Civilian Casualties: We Need Better Estimates—Not Just Better Numbers
The Pentagon could do a better job reducing civilian casualties in wartime. Here's how.

The US is Focusing on Counterterrorism in Libya, at Human Rights’ Expense
This article is the first in a new series we are producing in partnership Columbia Law School's Human Rights Institute that features the voices of experts and advocates from…

Saudi Prince’s Visit Chance to Demand Focus on Terrorism, Not Political Opponents
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visits the White House today as alarm grows in Washington about his country’s conduct of the war in Yemen, its misuse of anti-terror…

The Saudi War in Yemen Is Strengthening Terrorism
Saudi Arabia’s U.S.-backed military campaign in Yemen not only drives the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, but also deepens the terrorist threat to the U.S. And American…

Gina Haspel, Torture, and the ProPublica Correction
ProPublica’s comprehensive correction to significant portions of its earlier reporting on Gina Haspel, President Donald Trump’s recent nominee for CIA Director, provided an…

UN Working Group: Indefinite Detention of Gitmo Detainee Violates Human Rights Law
The Jan. 24 findings of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention conclude that the continued detention of Ammar al Baluchi at Guantanamo Bay is arbitrary, discriminatory, and…