EXPLAINER: What are the Rules of War?

A wave of around 100 airstrikes in southern Lebanon within 10 minutes has drawn global attention back to the “Rules of War” under international law.

Lebanon’s Civil Defense reported 254 dead and 1,165 injured, noting that many of them are civilians. However, Israel said the strikes targeted the rebel group Hezbollah’s command centers.

The escalation comes amid rising regional tensions involving Israel and the United States against Lebanon and Iran.

Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri Lebanon Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri called Israel's recent action a "full-fledged war crime."

The legal framework governing armed conflict is known as International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which sets limits on how wars are fought.

These rules of war aim to protect people who are not participating in hostilities and to restrict the means and methods of warfare.

The foundation of modern IHL is the Geneva Conventions with additional protocols. These rules are monitored and interpreted by bodies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Under these rules, several core principles apply:

Principle of Distinction

Warring parties must always distinguish between combatants and civilians, as well as between military targets and civilian objects such as homes, schools, hospitals, and infrastructure.

Civilians must never be deliberately targeted.

Prohibition of Indiscriminate Attacks

Attacks that are not directed at a specific military objective or that are expected to cause excessive civilian harm relative to the military advantage gained are not allowed.

This includes the use of weapons or tactics that cannot differentiate between civilian and military targets.

Precautionary Measures and Warning

Parties to a conflict are required to take all feasible precautions to minimize civilian harm. This includes providing advance warnings of attacks when circumstances allow, to give civilians time to evacuate or seek shelter.

Protection of Vulnerable Persons

IHL provides special protections for wounded soldiers, prisoners of war, medical personnel, and civilians who are not participating in fighting.

Meanwhile, Lebanese authorities reported that more than 1,400 people have been killed in the country since early March due to ongoing strikes, including over 120 children and dozens of health workers. 

Regional figures cited in reports also indicate thousands of deaths across multiple countries since the wider escalation of conflict.

US President Donald Trump made statements warning of possible large-scale strikes against Iranian infrastructure prior to the ceasefire developments.

This prompted concern from over 100 international law experts who warned such actions could violate international law if carried out. —Joviland Rita, research and information from GMA News DigiLab and GMA News Research/AOL, GMA News