Jus ad Bellum
159 Articles

Extraterritorial Counterterrorism: Policymaking v. Law
The Biden administration's counterterrorism policy review is a crucial moment to evaluate the role of law versus policy and an opportunity to narrow the scope of the “ongoing…

Protecting the Information Space in Times of Armed Conflict
What, if any, limits exist concerning digital information operations in armed conflict? Does the humanitarian legal framework adequately capture the protection needs that arise…

The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict and the Exercise of “Self-Defense” to Recover Occupied Land
The fighting raised a fundamental but surprisingly overlooked question of international law on the use of force.

Finland Sets Out Key Positions on International Cyber Law
Analysis of the Government of Finland's new statement on international law in cyberspace.

On Iranian Gunboats: Beware Conflating American and Mainstream Views of the Law
In a recent essay in Just Security entitled “Iranian Gunboat Harassment and the Rules of Engagement,” Michael Schmitt and Durward Johnson explore important questions raised…

Iranian Gunboat Harassment and the Rules of Engagement
What to make of Trump's order to “shoot down and destroy” lranian boats that harass US vessels. International law and Standing Rules of Engagement place significant limits.

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.

The Trump Administration’s Latest (Failed) Attempt to Justify the Soleimani Strike
Two months after killing Qassem Soleimani, the Trump administration still hasn’t gotten its story straight. On January 3rd, the day of the operation, and for the next 10 days,…

New Online Resource: War Powers and Presidential Practice
"Intended for use by policymakers, legislators, scholars, journalists and the general public, the Project is an expansive new resource that analyzes the war powers reporting practice…

Compilation of States’ Reactions to U.S. and Iranian Uses of Force in Iraq in January 2020
A comprehensive guide to every state in the world's reaction to the U.S. operation killing of Qassem Soleimani and to the Iranian military response.

U.S. Legal Defense of the Soleimani Strike at the United Nations: A Critical Assessment
A critical annotation of the principal claims in the United States' formal letter to the U.N. justifying the Soleimani strike.

Iran’s Unlawful Reprisal (and Ours)
"By Iran’s own standard, last night’s operation was unlawful." So was the US strike on Soleimani. Time to stop this cycle of unilateral illegal acts.