enemy combatants
Armed opposing forces
Enemy combatants are individuals engaged in armed conflict against a military force.
The term gained prominence after 2001 when the U.S. government applied it to terrorism suspects held without the legal protections afforded prisoners of war or criminal defendants: The detainees at Guantánamo were classified as enemy combatants.
The designation created a legal gray zone—neither soldier nor civilian, with ambiguous rights under international law.
- soldierArmed forces member
- foeHostile opponent
- adversaryEnemy in conflict
- belligerentHostile and eager to clash
- opponentOne who contends against
military tribunals · Geneva Conventions · threats · hostile · fighter · military · war crimes · enhanced interrogation · habeas corpus · executive power · armed conflict · war on terror · foreign nationals · detention camps · wartime legislation · Bush administration · international law · martial law
- war participantssoldiers, troops, armies, army, fighters
- Gitmodetention camp, military prison, detainees, interrogation, waterboarding
- security lawnational security, counterterrorism, classified information, security clearance, state secrets
- insurgentsinsurgent, guerrillas, guerrilla, rebel, resistance fighters
- military prisonsmilitary prison, military brig, brig, stockade, Leavenworth
enemy combatantsallied forces
Militaries united by agreement
allies · coalition forces · coalition partners · compatriots
enemy combatantscivilians
Non-military population
non-combatants · innocent bystanders · prisoners of war · medical personnel · humanitarian workers
enemy combatantspeacekeepers
Forces maintaining cease-fires
friendlies · diplomats · negotiators · peace negotiators · mediators
enemy, enemies, enmity, combatant, combatants, combat, combats, combated, combating