Operation Epic Fury
39 Articles
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.
The Entrenchment of Iran’s Security State
Three key factors explain why the Iranian regime has held on and why it is increasingly likely to survive the war.
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.
Legal and Operational Issues in the Strait of Hormuz: Transit Passage Under Fire
"During my own transits through the Strait as a naval officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation, the narrow geography and proximity of Iranian territory were impossible…
Hypothetical Legal Advice to SecDef Hegseth on “No Quarter” Statement (from Office of General Counsel)
A hypothetical General Counsel advice to Secretary Hegseth about his "no quarter" statement in Iran war.
Operation Epic Fury: Reports of the Death of International Law are Greatly Exaggerated
"I am sure some restrictionists will critique my analysis by claiming it is not grounded in orthodox interpretations of international law."
Aggression, Plain and Simple: A Response to Shany and Cohen on the Attack on Iran
Legal academics debate the state of international law and international institutions in light of the US-Israel-Iran War.
Sinking Iran’s Frigate IRIS Dena and the Law of Naval Warfare
Legal explainer concerning the location of the Iranian vessel, the attack itself, and the U.S. submarine's lack of attempted rescue.
The International Community at a Crossroads Over Iran: The reawakening of “illegal but legitimate” or the “law of self-preservation”?
"The tensions we have identified are particularly acute when a State faces an existential threat and, as in here, from an enemy long committed to radically unlawful behavior."
The United Kingdom’s Use of Force Against Iran: Walking a Legal Tightrope?
An assessment of the United Kingdom's ability to maintain a legal line between defensive versus offensive operations against Iran.
Was Targeting Ayatollah Khamenei and Other Iranian Leaders Lawful? What Precedents Does It Set?
After Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei was killed in a U.S. and Israeli attack, a key question arises: when is striking a member of the enemy leadership lawful under the laws…
Double Preemption, Imminence, and the U.S. Attack Against Iran
Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s argument that Operation Epic Fury was an act of preemptive self-defense is not credible and does not satisfy the necessary precondition.