International Humanitarian Law (IHL)

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718 Articles
A sign that reads "Protection Desk" stands in front of a low, makeshift shelter of what looks like carpets or brightly colored red fabric suspended over mostly woman and children sitting on the ground or on small ground covers under the shelter. A few buckets and bags sit on the ground around the sign. In the background is a big blue metal corrugated building and further behind to the left is a large soiled white tent. At the right of the image is a tall, white wall extending on the side of the compound.

Fleeing Sudan’s War: Refugees Detail Three Years of Trauma

Three years into Sudan’s war, famine spreads, cities fall under siege, and millions flee. Refugees recount a litany of losses, with no end in sight.
An overhead view of the Pentagon building in Washington, DC.

In Response to the Letter by International Law Experts

Four experts, who have each served as Senior Law of War Advisor, respond to Letter by 100+ international law experts on Iran war published at Just Security.
Woman sitting down, holding an AK-47 in her lap, in a military base hidden among the mountains in Khalifa, Erbil Province, Iraq.

The International Legal Consequences and Imprudence of U.S. Assistance to Kurdish Rebels in Iran

U.S. policies of funding rebel groups to achieve shared strategic objectives while turning a blind eye to ideology and international law has proven to be myopic time and again
Plumes of smoke rise following reported explosions in Tehran early on March 3, 2026. The United States and Israel started striking Iran on February 28, killing Iran's supreme leader and top military leaders, and prompting authorities to retaliate with strikes on Israel and across the Gulf. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images)

Over 100 International Law Experts Warn: U.S. Strikes on Iran Violate UN Charter and May Be War Crimes

Over 100 international law experts sign letter on Iran War, UN Charter, and international humanitarian law.
Shirvan Combine Cycle Power Plant. The power station is located in North Khorasan Province, near the city of Shirvan. (Via Getty Images)

When War Crimes Rhetoric Becomes Battlefield Reality: The Slippery Slope to Total War on Iran

Former JAGs warn that threats to strike Iran’s power plants would violate the law of war and endanger U.S. service members’ legal and moral obligations.
​Wide shot view of a Ukrainian police deminer​ kneeling in a grassy field, using a metal detector to search for explosives in the in the Izyum district of Kharkiv region, Ukraine​. The man has a prosthetic leg.

Ukraine’s Long-Term Landmine Problem

April 4th is the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. It's a sad reminder that it will likely take decades to demine Ukraine.
The U.S. Army’s Precision Strike Missile Increment 1 lifting off (via U.S. Army)

“Precision Strike Missiles” (PrSMs) in Iran War: The U.S. Obligation to Conduct a Legal Review of New Weapons

Leading expert on U.S. legal reviews of new weapons systems discusses Precision Strike Missiles deployed in Iran war.
Military personnel look at a computer screen.

A Feasible Precaution Ignored: AI Targeting Algorithms and the Failure to Recognize Protected Emblems

Ensuring algorithms recognize protected emblems is an achievable first step to protect civilians and prevent future AI-enabled tragedies.
Two men stand talking with each other in the foreground as dozens of other men swarm around and on top of a building's ruins, along with heavy equipment apparently meant to be used for rescue or cleanup operations.

In the U.S. Strike on an Iranian School, What a Serious Military Investigation Should Look Like

A U.S. military operation resulting in such a civilian death toll as the Minab school strike in Iran demands a credible, thorough Pentagon investigation.
Three cone shaped flags on poles, Israel, Iran, United States, isolated on a transparent background (via Getty Images).

Expert Q&A: A Targeting Primer on the Iran War

Leading legal experts' Q&A analyzes how the law of armed conflict applies to U.S., Israeli, and Iranian strikes - with a focus on targeting rules and civilian protections.
An aerial view of a graveyard

When Intelligence Fails: A Legal Targeting Analysis of the Minab School Strike

The law of armed conflict demands that we take the Minab school strike seriously to learn, to reform, and to prevent the next failure.
A picture taken on March 12, 2017, shows a view of an oil facility in the Kharg Island, on the shore of the Gulf. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)

Targeting Enemy Logistics

In the Iran war, when do critical infrastructure and economic assets qualify as lawful military objectives under the law of armed conflict.
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