Armed Conflict

Just Security’s expert authors provide analysis on the legal, policy, and strategic dimensions of armed conflict, including the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Hamas war, counterterrorism operations, conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa, and other armed conflicts across the globe, with a focus on international humanitarian law, war crimes and accountability, mitigating and remedying civilian harm, and the humanitarian impacts of warfare.

Civilian Harm Israel-Hamas War Russia-Ukraine Sudan Law of Armed Conflict/IHL Use of Force

Highlights:

IMAGES (left to right): People search through buildings, destroyed during Israeli air raids in the southern Gaza Strip on November 7, 2023 in Khan Yunis, Gaza (Photo by Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images); A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment of Gaza City on October 9, 2023 (Photo by Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images); The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the UN, holds public hearings on the request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by South Africa in the case South Africa v. Israel on 11 and 12 January 2024, at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the Court (Photo by the International Court of Justice).

Just Security’s Israel-Hamas War Archive

Just Security's collection of more than 110 articles covering the Israel-Hamas War and its diplomatic, legal, and humanitarian consequences.

Dec. 10, 2025 Clara Apt and Tess Bridgeman

A collage of images featuring scenes from the Russia - Ukraine War.

Just Security’s Russia–Ukraine War Archive

A catalog of over 100 articles (many with Ukrainian translations) on the Russia Ukraine War -- law, diplomacy, policy options, and more.

Jan. 14, 2026 Clara Apt and Tess Graham

CARIBBEAN SEA - SEPTEMBER 22: In this handout provided by the U.S. Navy, An AH-1Z Cobra, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), fires an air-to-ground missile (AGM) 114N during a live-fire exercise on September 22, 2025 in the Caribbean sea.

Using an Unmarked Aircraft to Attack an Alleged Drug Boat: Is it Perfidy?

Did the Sept. 2 strike on suspected drug traffickers using an unmarked aircraft violate the prohibition on perfidy, or other LOAC rules, had there been an armed conflict?

Jan. 20, 2026 Michael Schmitt

Journalists work as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is seen on screen as he speaks to press during the European Council meeting gathering the 27 EU leaders to discuss Ukraine, European defence, and more, in Brussels, on October 23, 2025. (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP) (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP via Getty Images)

The EU Discovers Emergency Powers: Russian Assets Edition

When is it justified for the EU to rely on emergency measures to protect Ukraine and counter Russia?

Jan. 20, 2026 Elena Chachko and Katerina Linos

French President Jacques Chirac at the left of the image is applauding as he smiles at Russian President Vladimir Putin in the center of the image and US President George W. Bush, who is laughing as Putin seems to smile and gape at the display.

A NATO Promise Not to Enlarge? No, Not Even According to Putin 1.0

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim that the West promised not to expand NATO is a myth—denied by Gorbachev, ignored by Yeltsin, and invented years into Putin’s rule.

Jan. 7, 2026 Ambassador Steven Pifer

War Powers, Venezuela, Drug Boats, and Congress

The last year of unauthorized military interventions and the president’s threats should spur Congress to reassert its constitutional prerogatives over the use of force.

Jan. 12, 2026 Tess Bridgeman and Brian Finucane

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Iranians gather while blocking a street during a protest in Tehran, Iran on January 9, 2026. The nationwide protests started in Tehran's Grand Bazaar against the failing economic policies in late December, which spread to universities and other cities, and included economic slogans, to political and anti-government ones. (Photo by MAHSA / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images)

Military Force Will Not Help the People of Iran

This is an Iranian uprising, and it is up to the people of Iran to decide their own future.

Jan. 16, 2026 Dalia Dassa Kaye

A person enjoys an afternoon walk near the sea on January 15, 2026 in Nuuk, Greenland. (Photo by Alessandro RAMPAZZO / AFP via Getty Images)

How Congress Can Preserve NATO and Greenland: Using 22 USC 1928f to Protect the Peace

Trump’s threats to invade Greenland risk destroying NATO itself, but a little-known statute, 22 U.S.C. 1928f, could prevent him from doing just that.

Jan. 16, 2026 Alberto J. Mora

Members of the Delegation of The Gambia Monday 12 January 2026 Photograph: UN Photo/ICJ-CIJ/Frank van Beek. Courtesy of the ICJ. All rights reserved.

Proving Genocide: Party Presentation

Myanmar appears to have changed its position in Gambia v. Myanmar, a historic genocide case before the ICJ. This change may prove decisive in the court's pending decision.

Jan. 14, 2026 Adil Ahmad Haque

The Marinera oil tanker is seen on January 14, 2026 in Hopeman, Scotland. The Marinera oil tanker, previously known as the Bella 1, has entered UK waters at the request of the US to be replenished with "essential supplies." The Russian-flagged tanker was seized by US forces on 7 January 2026, between Iceland and Scotland, for allegedly violating sanctions by transporting oil for Venezuela, Russia, and Iran. (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)

A Law of the Sea Assessment of the U.S. boarding of the Bella 1 / Marinera

Based on the publicly available information to date, it is difficult to sustain the lawfulness of the U.S.-led and UK-supported seizure of the Marinera.

Jan. 14, 2026 Rob McLaughlin and Conor McLaughlin

The image shows multiple buildings, most of them non-residential, in white and red around a snowy hillside, with what appear to be cell phone and perhaps other types of steel towers and a radar atop the hill in the background.

Trump Is Right About Greenland — Wrong About How to Secure It

The challenge is not recognition of Greenland’s importance; it is ensuring that security enhancements are strategic, sustainable, and allied-driven.

Jan. 13, 2026 Frank A. Rose

NATO Leaders join King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands for a family photo as they participate in the 2025 NATO summit on June 24, 2025 in The Hague, Netherlands. (Photo by Haiyun Jiang-Pool/Getty Images)

The North Atlantic Treaty and a U.S. Attack on Denmark

Would NATO have to defend Denmark if the United States attempted to seize Greenland? Article 5 suggests other allies are obligated to come to Denmark's defense if requested.

Jan. 13, 2026 Michael Schmitt

80 Years After Nuremberg, Envisioning the Future of International Law

For international criminal law to remain a compelling set of norms, the central principles that formed Nuremberg must be vigorously defended.

Jan. 12, 2026 Jeremy Pizzi and Maksym Vishchyk

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), principal judicial organ of the UN, holds public hearings (by video link) on the preliminary objections raised by Myanmar in the case concerning "Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide" (The Gambia v. Myanmar) at the Peace Palace in The Hague, from 21 to 28 February 2022. Sessions are held under the presidency of Judge Joan E. Donoghue, President of the Court.

Elements of Genocide: Intent to Kill

The ICJ should explicitly interpret ‘intentionally’ killing members of a group to include dolus directus and dolus eventualis in the case brought by Gambia against Myanmar.

Jan. 9, 2026 Adil Ahmad Haque

People watch the smoke rising from Port of La Guaira after explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard on January 03, 2026 in La Guaira, Venezuela. According to some reports, explosions were heard in Caracas and other cities near airports and military bases around 2 am. US President Donald Trump later announce that his country's military had launched a "large-scale" attack on Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. (Photo by Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)

U.S. Intelligence in a Post-Maduro Venezuela

Intelligence has a central role to play in capitalizing on the successful capture of Maduro and stabilizing post-Maduro Venezuela, demonstrating U.S. capabilities and resolve.

Jan. 9, 2026 Jeffrey Rogg

Trump is standing at a wooden lectern with the presidential seal on the front of it. The officials are arrayed behind him, against a dark blue backdrop with an American flag and a presidential flag between the backdrop and the officials. All the men are wearing suits, except Caine, who is wearing a blue Air Force uniform.

Trump’s New Year Foreign Policy: The Risk that the Bold and the Bad Outweigh the Constructive

Trump’s foreign policy remains an inconsistent array of initiatives and adventures: bold in Latin America, bad in Greenland, yet often constructive on Ukrainian security.

Jan. 8, 2026 Ambassador Daniel Fried

Hollowing Out Complementarity: The ICC Rejects Israel’s ‘Court of Last Resort’ Admissibility Challenge

The ICC Appeals Chamber affirmed the case against Israeli leaders, narrowing Article 18 complementarity and raising concerns about the Court’s treatment of non-member states.

Jan. 8, 2026 Yuval Shany and Amichai Cohen

Proving Genocide: Patterns of Conduct

As the ICJ hears Gambia v. Myanmar, the Court should continue to consider “patterns of conduct,” while weighing this evidence with other sources for genocidal intent.

Jan. 8, 2026 Adil Ahmad Haque

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