: An attack is prohibited if the incidental loss of life or damage to civilian property is excessive in relation to the concrete military advantage anticipated.
: Crucially, IHL is distinct from jus ad bellum , which governs the legality of going to war in the first place; IHL ( jus in bello ) applies once a conflict has started, regardless of its cause. 2. The Four Fundamental Pillars
: The use of weapons or tactics that cause "superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering" is strictly forbidden. 3. Legal Sources of IHL The rules of IHL are derived from several primary sources: International Humanitarian Law - ICRC : An attack is prohibited if the incidental
: Only those measures necessary to achieve a legitimate military purpose are permitted.
: It safeguards civilians and those hors de combat (out of the fight), such as the wounded, sick, and prisoners of war. The Four Fundamental Pillars : The use of
This paper provides a detailed overview of , also known as the "law of war" or the "law of armed conflict." IHL is a set of rules that, for humanitarian reasons, seeks to limit the effects of armed conflict. 1. Definition and Core Purpose
: It limits the means (weapons used) and methods (tactics employed) of warfare to minimize unnecessary suffering. : It safeguards civilians and those hors de
According to the American Red Cross , IHL is built on four central principles that guide decision-making during war: