IHL is a branch of public international law that regulates the conduct of hostilities and protects persons who are not, or are no longer, participating in combat.
According to the American Red Cross , IHL is built on four central principles that guide decision-making during war: IHL is a branch of public international law
: Parties must always distinguish between civilians and combatants, and between civilian objects and military objectives. This paper provides a detailed overview of ,
: 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 for humanitarian reasons
: 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.
: Only those measures necessary to achieve a legitimate military purpose are permitted.
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