Source: https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/customary-ihl/eng/print/v2_rul_rule8_sectionb
Timestamp: 2019-05-22 10:11:22
Document Index: 185685806

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 406', '§ 4', '§ 8', '§ 5', '§ 1', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 7', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 7']

Note: For practice concerning attacks against combatants, see Rule 1, Section B.
The preamble to the 1868 St. Petersburg Declaration states: “The only legitimate object which States should endeavour to accomplish during war is to weaken the military forces of the enemy.”
Declaration Renouncing the Use, in Time of War, of Explosive Projectiles Under 400 Grammes Weight, St. Petersburg, 29 November–11 December 1868, preamble.
According to Article 24(2) of the 1923 Hague Rules of Air Warfare, “military forces” are military objectives.
Article 5(1) of the 1938 ILA Draft Convention for the Protection of Civilian Populations against New Engines of War provides that “aerial bombardment is prohibited unless directed at combatant forces”.
Paragraph I(1) of the proposed annex to Article 7(2) of the 1956 New Delhi Draft Rules stated that “armed forces, including auxiliary or complementary organizations, and persons who, though not belonging to the above-mentioned formations, nevertheless take part in the fighting” are military objectives considered to be of “generally recognized military importance”.
Draft Rules for the Limitation of the Dangers Incurred by the Civilian Population in Time of War, drafted by the International Committee of the Red Cross, September 1956, submitted to governments for their consideration on behalf of the 19th International Conference of the Red Cross, New Delhi, 28 October–7 November, Res. XIII, § I(1) of the proposed annex to Article 7(2).
Canada, The Law of Armed Conflict at the Operational and Tactical Levels , Office of the Judge Advocate General, 13 August 2001, §§ 406.1 and 408–410.1.
According to Croatia’s LOAC Compendium (1991), military objectives include the armed forces.
Croatia, Compendium “Law of Armed Conflicts”, Republic of Croatia, Ministry of Defence, 1991, p. 7; see also Basic Rules of the Law of Armed Conflicts – Commanders’ Manual, Republic of Croatia, Ministry of Defence, 1992, § 4 (“combatants”).
Ecuador’s Naval Manual (1989) provides that combatants and troop concentrations are military objectives.
According to Ethiopia’s Standing Rules of Engagement (2007), “military objectives” include “regular members of the enemy army wearing a uniform”, “paramilitary forces and voluntary conscripts” and “identifiable armed rebel groups organized to bring down the constitutional order”.
Ethiopia, Standing Rules of Engagement, National Defense Force, Addis Ababa, 2007, §§ 8.3.1–8.3.3.
According to Hungary’s Military Manual (1992), military objectives include the armed forces.
Ireland’s Basic LOAC Guide (2005) states: “Military objectives … obviously include enemy soldiers and combatants”.
Kenya’s LOAC Manual (1997) provides that “the armed forces except medical service and religious personnel and objects” are military objectives.
Mexico’s IHL Guidelines (2009) states: “Military objectives are: … the armed forces except for the medical service and religious personnel and objects.”
According to Nigeria’s Military Manual (1994) and Soldiers’ Code of Conduct, combatants are military objectives.
Nigeria, International Humanitarian Law (IHL), Directorate of Legal Services, Nigerian Army, 1994, p. 39, § 5(a); see also Code of Conduct for Combatants, “The Soldier’s Rules”, Nigerian Army, undated, § 1.
According to the Soldier’s Rules (1989) of the Philippines, enemy combatants are military objectives.
According to the Republic of Korea’s Military Law Manual (1996), combatants are military objectives.
Spain’s LOAC Manual (1996) states that “the armed forces, except medical and religious personnel” are military objectives.
Spain, Orientaciones. El Derecho de los Conflictos Armados, Publicación OR7-004, 2 Tomos, aprobado por el Estado Mayor del Ejército, Division de Operaciones, 18 March 1996, Vol. I, § 4.2.b; see also § 4.2.b.(1).
Spain’s LOAC Manual (2007) states that “the armed forces, except medical personnel, religious personnel and personnel engaged solely in civil defence tasks,” are military objectives.
Spain, Orientaciones. El Derecho de los Conflictos Armados, Tomo 1, Publicación OR7–004, (Edición Segunda), Mando de Adiestramiento y Doctrina, Dirección de Doctrina, Orgánica y Materiales, 2 November 2007, § 4.2.b; see also § 7.3.a.(6).
The manual further states: “People that can be targeted as military objectives are all those who can be considered combatants.”
Spain, Orientaciones. El Derecho de los Conflictos Armados, Tomo 1, Publicación OR7–004, (Edición Segunda), Mando de Adiestramiento y Doctrina, Dirección de Doctrina, Orgánica y Materiales, 2 November 2007, § 4.2.b.(1).
The manual also states that “combatants, including airborne troops during their descent” are military objectives.
Spain, Orientaciones. El Derecho de los Conflictos Armados, Tomo 1, Publicación OR7–004, (Edición Segunda), Mando de Adiestramiento y Doctrina, Dirección de Doctrina, Orgánica y Materiales, 2 November 2007, § 4.5.b.(1).(a); see also § 7.3.a.(6).
Sweden’s IHL Manual (1991) states: “Persons participating in hostilities … are thereby legitimate objectives.”
According to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia’s Military Manual (1988), the armed forces are a military objective.
To fulfil its task of disseminating IHL, the ICRC has delegates around the world teaching armed and security forces that military objectives include: “the armed forces except medical service and religious personnel and objects”.
In 1985, in a report on violations of the laws of war in Nicaragua, Americas Watch listed “members of the Popular Sandinista Army and militias”, as well as “members of ARDE, FDN, MISURA and MISURASATA [two indigenous organizations fighting against the Nicaraguan Government]”, as persons which “can arguably be regarded as legitimate military objectives subject to direct attack”.
In 1986, in a report on the use of landmines in the conflicts in El Salvador and Nicaragua, Americas Watch listed the following persons as legitimate military objectives subject to direct attack:
1. In Nicaragua
(a) Members of the Popular Sandinista Army and Militias
(b) Members of ARDE, FDN, KISAN and MISURASATA [two indigenous organizations fighting against the Nicaraguan Government]
2. In El Salvador
(a) Members of the Salvadoran combined armed forces and civil defense forces
(b) Members of the FMLN [Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional].
In 1989, in a report on violations of the laws of war in Angola, Africa Watch listed “members of the armed forces and civil defense of Angola and other armed forces assisting the defense of Angola, such as the Cuban armed forces”, as well as “members of UNITA [União Nacional para Independência Total de Angola] armed forces and other armed forces assisting UNITA, such as the South African Defense Force and South West Africa armed forces”, as persons which “may be regarded as legitimate military objectives subject to direct attack by combatants and mines”.