Boat Strikes Syllabus Supplement

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

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 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.