International Humanitarian Law (IHL)

What stories or topics merited more attention in 2025, and which might inform law and policy conversations in 2026?

This syllabus supplement offers curated articles intended to be combined with traditional casebooks in a law school or other higher education classroom.

Experts examine the international law basis of the U.S. boarding and seizure of a vessel carrying Venezuelan crude.

Operation Southern Spear’s lethal boat strikes are unlawful under IHRL and, even on the administration’s own terms, trigger binding LOAC and DoD duties to investigate.

Detailing how, under different scenarios, international law and U.S. past practices apply to Sept. 2 boat strike on survivors.

An amnesty in any future peace plan would be unlawful and a moral abdication of the pursuit of accountability for victims in Russia's war in Ukraine.

A deep dive on the international law applicable to the U.S. military's lethal operations against suspected drug boats

A list of questions that should be answered by U.S. government officials regarding the lethal campaign against suspected drug trafficking individuals, groups, and vessels.

If the United States chooses a path where killing defenseless survivors becomes acceptable, American servicemembers will pay the price for that choice.

Legal and ethical debates surge around unreleased OLC memo on lethal boat strikes in the Caribbean, with growing calls for transparency and scrutiny of military lawyers.

An expert backgrounder on the reported Hegseth "no quarter" order to kill everyone aboard a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean on Sept. 2.

Analysis of Germany's argument before the International Court of Justice in Gaza case.