Article 51
23 Articles
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.
Iranian Attacks on the Amazon Data Centers: A Legal Analysis
Do data centers qualify as lawful military objectives? If so, under what circumstances are they subject to attack? And what precautions must be taken before targeting them?
What the Current Crises Facing Iran Mean for Human Rights and Rules on the Use of Force
The human rights crisis in Iran reveals the limits of a legal system designed to restrain force even when restraint carries profound human costs.
The North Atlantic Treaty and a U.S. Attack on Denmark
Would NATO have to defend Denmark if the United States attempted to seize Greenland? Article 5 suggests other allies are obligated to come to Denmark's defense if requested.
The United Nations in Hindsight: The Increasing Use of Article 51 of the UN Charter and the Security Council
Reports required under Article 51 are crucial for the UNSC to assess disputed self-defense claims and ensure accountability and maintain peace.
Assessing the U.S. Article 51 Letter for the Attack on Iran: Legal Lipstick on the Use of Force Pig
Former State Department attorney analyzes U.S. letter to UN Security Council that presented legal arguments for U.S. strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.
Q&A with Eliav Lieblich on Iran-Israel Hostilities
Expert insight on the legality of recent attacks by Iran and Israel, how domestic politics could impact an Israeli response, and prospects for de-escalation.
How the Expansion of “Self-Defense” Has Undermined Constraints on the Use of Force
Legal Scholar Oona Hathaway examines how expansive U.S. interpretations of "self-defense" have shaped international law.
The Time has Come to Have a Conversation at the U.N. on Self-Defence
Pablo Arrocha Olabuenaga, Legal Adviser to Mexico's Mission to UN, writes in his personal capacity about an important conversation on international law.
Turkey’s Syria Invasion: German Research Report Says Illegal on All Counts
A German parliamentary research report serves as an important reminder that evidence and proportionality matter, and that exceptions to the prohibition of the use of force should…
The German Constitutional Court on the Right of Self-Defense Against ISIS in Syria
German Constitutional Court concludes that the government has a reasonable claim that the UN Charter permits use of force in self-defense against non-state actors — at least…
Iran’s Shifting Views on Self-Defense and ‘Intraterritorial’ Force
Iran’s justification for shooting down a US drone suggests a subtle shift in its understanding of international law.