Laws of War
107 Articles

The Russian Intercept of the U.S. Reaper and International Law
The Russian operation almost certainly violated the international law obligation of due regard and, perhaps, the prohibition on using force. Nevertheless, the Biden administration…

Are Methods of Naval Warfare at Risk Under “Qualified” Neutrality? Expert Q&A from Stockton Center’s Russia-Ukraine Conference
Absent a clear indication in State practice to the contrary, qualified immunity should not effectively transform what would otherwise be contraband into “free goods” immune…

Rehabilitation for Torture at Guantanamo is a Moral and Legal Imperative
To be an effective leader, the United States must honor its commitments under the Convention Against Torture.

Almost There: When Will the Biden Administration Support the ICC in Ukraine?
The ICC’s investigation may be the only viable effort to hold accountable certain senior Russian officials responsible for horrific atrocities in Ukraine. The only thing that…

Lieber at Sand Creek: A New Critical Reinterpretation of the Laws of War
Lieber’s Code reflected and reproduced a virulent thread in the law of nations that preceded him by centuries and continues today.

Poland’s Position on International Law and Cyber Operations: Sovereignty and Third-Party Countermeasures
Poland's positions push the discussion forward on contested areas of law.

Dutch Court, in Life Sentences: Russia Had “Overall Control” of Forces in Eastern Ukraine Downing of Flight MH17
The finding was part of the guilty verdicts against 3 commanders of Russian-backed forces in the 2014 shootdown of the civilian airliner.

Amid the Russia-Ukraine War, a Dutch Court Prepares to Rule on Four Suspects in the 2014 Downing of Flight MH17
All 298 people aboard were killed when the Malaysian airliner, flying from Amsterdam, was shot down over Russian-controlled territory.

What the White House Use of Force Policy Means for the War in Somalia
In principle, the new policy tightens safeguards for airstrikes and special operation raids. But it contains loopholes that will likely allow business as usual for USAFRICOM in…

Припиніть говорити «анексовані території»: альтернативи терміну агресора
Кожного дня, коли Україна виганяє російські війська з незаконно окупованої української території,…

Stop Saying “Annexed Territories”: Alternatives to the Bully’s Term
To say Russia has “annexed” a Ukrainian oblast while Ukraine maintains its territorial claim is, in a minor way, to aid Russia in its wrongful act. The clearest description…

Q&A on Russia-Backed Referendums in Eastern Ukraine and International Law
"There is simply no legal route through which a referendum can take place unilaterally without the consent of the territorial state."