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.
3,526 Articles
Hegseth Didn’t Revive an Ancient Warrior Ethos. He Repeated an American Pattern.
Hegseth's "no quarter" statement indicates how some in the Pentagon perceive the Iran war. "No quarter" language in US history has appeared when war turns colonial or racial.
The Court Gutted Congress’s War Power. It’s Time to Give It Back.
A 1983 Supreme Court ruling eviscerated the law allowing Congress to end war. The Iran strikes make that a five-alarm emergency.
Fighting an Illegal War and Fighting a War Illegally: the Link between Regime Change Operations and International Humanitarian Law Violations
The relationship between regime change and IHL is of inherent tension, incentivizing battlefields where the law is viewed as an obstacle rather than an essential constraint.
The Risks of Gender-Blind Conflict Analysis
The relevance of women to conflict, democratic resilience, and peacebuilding is evidence-based, yet they are commonly overlooked in forecasting and response.
An Unserious Justification for an Unnecessary War: Assessing the U.S. “Article 51” Letter to U.N. on Iran War
Former US State Department attorney writes that the United States' "Article 51" letter to the UN Security Council fails to identify legal basis for Iran attack.
Facing Russian Hybrid Threats in Advance of Elections, Armenia Struggles to Maintain Pro-U.S. and EU Path
Armenia's election is an opportunity for the country to chart a course for peace and democracy. But Russia is trying to thwart that path, and U.S. and EU help is needed.
If the U.S. Wants Durable Peace, It Must Protect the Institutions That Build It
A year ago, the Trump administration seized the U.S. Institute of Peace and began to dismantle it, gutting a key capability to reduce and prevent violent conflict.
The Entrenchment of Iran’s Security State
Three key factors explain why the Iranian regime has held on and why it is increasingly likely to survive the war.
Expert Q&A on Key Law of Naval Warfare Issues in the Conflict with Iran
Top legal experts on the law of naval warfare break down the key issues in the Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict.
Legal and Operational Issues in the Strait of Hormuz: Transit Passage Under Fire
"During my own transits through the Strait as a naval officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation, the narrow geography and proximity of Iranian territory were impossible…
Hypothetical Legal Advice to SecDef Hegseth on “No Quarter” Statement (from Office of General Counsel)
A hypothetical General Counsel advice to Secretary Hegseth about his "no quarter" statement in Iran war.
Did the United States Just Bomb Ecuador?
The U.S. military continues maritime strikes on alleged drug smugglers and may now be hitting targets on land. Brian Finucane analyzes Trump’s latest War Powers report.