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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3,331 Articles
The US Navy warship USS Sampson (DDG 102) docks at the Amador International Cruise Terminal in Panama City

The Many Ways in Which the September 2 Caribbean Strike was Unlawful … and the Grave Line the Military Has Crossed

A deep dive into US domestic authority and law most relevant to the US strike on alleged Venezuelan drug boat.
The US Navy warship USS Sampson (DDG 102) docks at the Amador International Cruise Terminal in Panama City

Striking Drug Cartels Under the Jus ad Bellum and Law of Armed Conflict

Analysis of laws of war and law on the resort to armed force in U.S. military action against Tren de Aragua.
The Just Security Podcast

The Just Security Podcast: Murder on the High Seas? What You Need to Know about the U.S. Strike on the Caribbean Vessel

Rebecca Ingber and Brian Finucane join Tess Bridgeman to unpack what you need to know about the U.S. strike on a purported drug trafficking vessel in the Caribbean.
Crew members of the US Navy warship USS Sampson (DDG 102) are pictured at the Amador International Cruise Terminal in Panama City on September 02, 2025. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on September 1, 2025, that eight US military vessels with 1,200 missiles were targeting his country, which he declared to be in a state of "maximum readiness to defend" itself. (Photo by MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP via Getty Images)

Using Labels, Not Law, to Justify Lethal Force: Inside the Venezuelan Boat Strike

Applying a new label to an old problem does not transform the problem. Nor does it grant the U.S. president or the U.S. military expanded legal authority to kill civilians.
The US Navy warship USS Sampson (DDG 102) docks at the Amador International Cruise Terminal in Panama City on September 02, 2025. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on September 1, 2025, that eight US military vessels with 1,200 missiles were targeting his country, which he declared to be in a state of "maximum readiness to defend" itself. (Photo by MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP via Getty Images)

Legal Issues Raised by a Lethal U.S. Military Attack in the Caribbean

The Trump administration’s extraordinary lethal attack on a purported drug smuggling vessel – and its vow that it is the start of a campaign – raise significant legal issues.
Taliban personnel shout slogans as they celebrate the fourth anniversary of their takeover of Afghanistan near the Kabul Polytechnic University in Kabul on August 15, 2025. (Photo by WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP via Getty Images)

The Experience of Time and Tyranny Under the Taliban in Afghanistan

The clock may seem to tick at the same rate for everyone, but its rhythm is felt differently under the weight of the Taliban's draconian rule.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (L), Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer (C) and France's President Emmanuel Macron (R)

The Fantasy of a European Reassurance Force for Ukraine

A European "reassurance force" for Ukraine risks being another notional "guarantee" offering little more than a false sense of security.
The Ukrainian and Taiwanese flags

A Security Guarantee for Ukraine? Look to the Taiwan Relations Act

The United States and its allies can use the Taiwan model to make post-war Ukraine more secure without writing checks they cannot cash.
Afghan women walk along a stone-laden street on the outskirts of Kabul on July 22, 2025. (Photo by WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP via Getty Images)

What the Erosion of the International System Means for Afghanistan

The ongoing struggle of Afghanistan’s exiled democratic movement is a vital bulwark against a rising tide of authoritarianism and extremism.
People install obituaries for people killed in a terrorist attack

Regular ISIL-Threat Review at U.N. Shows U.S., Russia, China, and European Interests and Competition on Counterterrorism

An upcoming UNSC review is a good chance for States to reflect on what is needed in implementing the Council's counterterrorism work.
U.S. President Donald Trump sits at a table with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and other European leaders

Trump, Zelenskyy, European Leaders in White House Meeting: Progress Toward a Deal?

Getting to any deal between Ukraine & Russia will require the United States & Europe to stand by Ukrainians & stare down Russia's demands.
Yemeni rescuers transport the bodies of victims pulled from the rubble of a building hit in US strikes in the northern province of Saada on April 28, 2025. Huthi media in Yemen said on April 28 that US strikes targeted a migrant detention centre in Saada, killing at least 68 people. (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

In Preparing for Large-Scale Conflicts, States Neglect Lessons on Civilian Protection at Their Peril

A new assessment shows that, among the U.S., the U.K., and the Netherlands, none are prepared for the challenges of protecting civilians.
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