Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC)

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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.
Smoke rises following strikes on Tehran on April 7, 2026. New strikes rocked Tehran on April 7 with Iran showing no sign of backing down as a US deadline loomed for it to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or have its civilian infrastructure "decimated,” according to the US president. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images) /

Reprisals and the Paradox of Trust: Why Threats of Retaliation in the Iran War are Unlikely to Work

Reprisals demand trust between adversaries, yet they often spark escalation. Their ban under international law is both moral and practical.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on March 31, 2026. (Photo by Oliver Contreras / AFP via Getty Images)

The Dangers of Hegseth’s “Warfighter” Ethos

Hegseth may present his version of a warfighter as the paragon of U.S. military power, but for all his talk, he fails to recognize the true strengths of the armed forces.
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.
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.
Pete Hegseth stands at a Pentagon podium during a press briefing on ongoing U.S. and Israeli military operations in Iran, speaking in front of a blue backdrop with the Pentagon emblem​.

Hegseth Didn’t Revive an Ancient Warrior Ethos. He Repeated an American Pattern.

Hegseth's "no quarter" statement indicates how some in the Pentagon perceive the Iran war. "No quarter" language in US history has appeared when war turns colonial or racial.

Fighting an Illegal War and Fighting a War Illegally: the Link Between Regime Change Operations and International Humanitarian Law Violations

The relationship between regime change and IHL is of inherent tension, incentivizing battlefields where the law is viewed as an obstacle rather than an essential constraint.
Handout photo taken on March 11, 2026 and released by the Royal Thai Navy shows smoke rising from the Thai bulk carrier 'Mayuree Naree' near the Strait of Hormuz after an attack. (Photo by Handout / ROYAL THAI NAVY / AFP via Getty Images)

Expert Q&A on Key Law of Naval Warfare Issues in the Conflict with Iran

Top legal experts on the law of naval warfare break down the key issues in the Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict.
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