rules of war
Battlefield legal limits
Rules of war are the international laws and conventions governing armed conflict—what combatants may and may not do.
They prohibit targeting civilians, torture of prisoners, and certain weapons.
The Geneva Conventions form the core of modern rules of war.
Bombing hospitals violates the rules of war.
Also called the laws of war or international humanitarian law.
- Hague ConventionsInternational laws of warfare
- Geneva ConventionsWartime humanitarian treaties
- UN CharterFoundational international organization treaty
- white flagSignal of capitulation
- combatantOne who fights
Red Cross · proportionality · human shields · collateral damage · military ethics
- War EthicsGeneva Conventions, Geneva Convention, proportionality, just cause, legitimate authority
- warrior ethicsbushido, chivalry, code of honor, samurai code, death before dishonor
- naval warfarenaval battles, naval battle, battleship, destroyer, sea battles
rules of wartotal war
Conflict engaging entire nations
no holds barred · anything goes · gloves off · scorched earth · carte blanche
rules of waranarchy
Disorder from absent authority
savagery · law of the jungle · lawlessness · fog of war · barbarism
rules of warwar crimes
Illegal acts during conflict
atrocities · crimes against humanity · barbarism · brutality · genocide
rule, rules, ruled, ruling, ruler, rulers, unruly, war, wars