Article

"On target" : precision and balance in the contemporary law of targeting

Michael N. Schmitt and Eric W. Widmar

• Journal of national security law and policy, Vol. 7, no. 3, 2014, p. 379-409

English

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Schmitt and Widmar explore the law of targeting within international humanitarian law (IHL) and its application to international and non-international armed conflict. The article examines the “five elements” of a target operation, including the target, the weapon used, the execution of the attack, possible collateral damage and incidental injury, and location of the strike. The authors suggest that a better understanding of these norms can help international lawyers, policymakers, and operators avoid violations of international law by creating appropriate and well-known boundaries for targeting operations.

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