Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

International Humanitarian Law and Bombing Campaigns: Legitimate Military Objectives and Excessive Collateral Damage

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law - 2010

Part of the book series: Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law ((YIHL,volume 13))

Abstract

This article focuses on the law which applies during armed conflicts to aerial bombardments or missiles launched from warships. In particular, the principles of distinction and proportionality are examined and the contribution of international courts and tribunals to the law in this area is considered. Issues raised by recent bombing campaigns, such as the bombing of electricity grids and television studios, are also discussed. The author concludes that the lessons of previous conflicts must be learned in order to reduce civilian casualties, but that war is destructive and closer adherence to international humanitarian law can not remove civilian casualties altogether.

This article is based on a much updated version of a paper originally given at the Oslo University/Norwegian Red Cross Conference on International Humanitarian Law and International Criminal Law on 5 May 2003. The author would like to thank Mr. David Turns and Dr. Paul Kearns for their helpful comments on earlier drafts. Any remaining errors are, of course, the author’s responsibility.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Aldrich G (1981) New life for the laws of war. AJIL 75:764–783

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aldrich G (1999) Yugoslavia’s television studios as military objectives. Int Law Forum 1:149–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belt SW (2000) Missiles over Kosovo: emergence, lex lata, of a customary norm requiring the use of precision guided munitions in urban areas. NLR 47:115–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benvenuti P (2001) The ICTY prosecutor and the review of the NATO bombing campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. EJIL 12:503–529

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bothe M (2001) The protection of the civilian population and NATO bombing on Yugoslavia: comments on a report to the prosecutor of the ICTY. EJIL 12:531–535

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bothe M (2002) War Crimes. In: Cassese A, Gaeta P, Jones J (eds) The Rome statute of the international criminal court: a commentary, vol I. Oxford University, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Bothe M, Partsch K, Solf W (1982) New rules for victims of armed conflicts, commentary on the two 1977 protocols additional to the Geneva conventions of 1949. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, The Hague

    Google Scholar 

  • Burroughs J (2000) Lawyers’ Committee on Nuclear Policy, The French ‘interpretative declaration’ regarding nuclear weapons. Available at www.lcnp.org/global/french.htm. Accessed 28 Dec 2010

  • Clarke M, Glynn T, Rogers A (1989) Combatant and prisoner of war status. In: Meyer M (ed) Armed conflict and the new law: aspects of the 1977 Geneva protocols and the 1981 weapons convention. British Institute of International and Comparative Law, London, pp 107–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Cottier M, Fenrick W, Viseur Sellers P, Zimmerman A (1999) Article 8, war crimes. In: Triffterer O (ed) Commentary on the Rome statute of the international criminal court, observers’ notes, article by article. Nomos Verlasgesellschaft, Baden-Baden

    Google Scholar 

  • Crawford J III (1997) The law of noncombatant immunity and the targeting of national electrical power systems. Fletcher Forum World Aff 21:101–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Darcy S (2003) The evolution of the law of belligerent reprisals. MLR 175:184–251

    Google Scholar 

  • Dinstein Y (1997) The laws of air, missile and nuclear warfare. Israel YB HR 27:1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Dinstein Y (2002) Discussion. Int Law Stud 78:218–219

    Google Scholar 

  • Dolzer R (2002) Commentary. Int Law Stud 78:353–359

    Google Scholar 

  • Dörmann K (2001) Preparatory Commission for the International Criminal Court: the elements of war crimes, part II: other serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in international and non-international armed conflicts. IRRC 842:461–486

    Google Scholar 

  • Doswald-Beck L (1989) The value of the 1977 Geneva protocols for the protection of civilians. In: Meyer M (ed) Armed conflict and the new law. British Institute for International and Comparative Law, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Dworkin A (2003) The Iraq war in retrospect. Available at www.crimesofwar.org/onnews/news-iraq3.html. Accessed 28 Dec 2010

  • Fenrick WJ (1982) The rule of proportionality and Protocol 1 in conventional warfare. Mil LR 98:91–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Fenrick WJ (1997) Attacking the enemy civilian as a punishable offence. Duke JCIL 7:539–569

    Google Scholar 

  • Fenrick WJ (2001) Targeting and proportionality during the NATO bombing campaign against Yugoslavia. EJIL 12:489–502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisk R (2003) Is there some element in the US military that wants to take out journalists? The Independent, London, 9 April 2003

    Google Scholar 

  • Fleck D (1997) Strategic bombing and the definition of military objectives. 27 Israel YB HR 27:41–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardam J (1993) Proportionality and force in international law. AJIL 87:391–413

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenwood C (1993) Customary international law and the first Geneva protocol of 1977 in the Gulf conflict. In: Rowe P (ed) The Gulf war 1990–91 in international and english law. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenwood C (1999) A critique of the additional protocols to the Geneva conventions of 1949. In: Durham H, McCormack TLH (eds) The changing face of conflict and the efficacy of international humanitarian law. Kluwer Law International, The Hague

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris D (1998) Cases and materials on international law, 5th edn edn. Sweet & Maxwell, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris T (2010) How smart bombs work. Available at http://science.howstuffworks.com/smart-bomb.htm. Accessed 28 Dec 2010

  • Hays Parks W (1998) The protection of civilians from air warfare. Israel YB HR 27:65–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Hays Parks W (2002) Commentary. Int Law Stud 78:281–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Henckaerts J, Doswald-Beck L (2005) Customary international humanitarian law. Cambridge University Press, Geneva, ICRC and Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Holland J (2004) Military objective and collateral damage: their relationship and dynamics. YIHL 7:35–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Infeld D (1992) Precision-guided munitions demonstrated their pinpoint accuracy in Desert Storm; but is a country obligated to use precision technology to minimize collateral civilian injury and damage. GW JIL and Econ 26:109–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalshoven F (1977) Reaffirmation and development of international humanitarian law applicable in armed conflicts: the Diplomatic Conference, Geneva, 1974–1977: Part 1: combatants and civilians. NYIL 8:107–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kreß C (2001) War crimes committed in non-international armed conflict and the emerging system of international criminal justice. In: Fleck D (ed) Humanitarian protection in non-international armed conflicts. International Institute of Humanitarian Law, San Remo, pp 103–177

    Google Scholar 

  • Kritsiotis D (2000) The Kosovo crisis and NATO’s application of armed force against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. ICLQ 49:330–359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee R (ed) (2001) The International Criminal Court: elements of crimes and rules of procedure and evidence. Transnational Publishers, Ardsley NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis MW (2003) The law of aerial bombardment in the 1991 Gulf war. AJIL 97:481–509

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lippman M (2002) Aerial attacks on civilians and the humanitarian law of war: technology and terror from World War 1 to Afghanistan. Calif Western ILJ 33:1–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Manual of the Law of Armed Conflict (2004) UK ministry of defence. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Manyon J, Rooney B (1999) TV attack entirely justified, says Blair, London, The Daily Telegraph, 24 April 1999

    Google Scholar 

  • Medenica O (2001) Protocol 1 and operation allied force: did NATO abide by principles of proportionality. Loy LA I & CLR 23:329–426

    Google Scholar 

  • Melzer N (2008) Interpretive guidance on the notion of direct participation in hostilities under international humanitarian law. IRRC 872:991–1047

    Google Scholar 

  • Meron T (1996) The continuing role of custom in the formation of international humanitarian law. AJIL 90:238–249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer JM (2001) Tearing down the façade: a critical look at the current law on targeting the will of the enemy and air force doctrine. Air Force LR 51:143–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy J (2002) Legal and ethical dimensions of collateral damage. Int Law Stud 78:229–255

    Google Scholar 

  • Normand R, Af Jochnick C (1994) The legitimation of violence: a critical analysis of the Gulf war. Harvard ILJ 35:387–416

    Google Scholar 

  • Oeter S (1999) Methods and means of combat. In: Fleck D (ed) The handbook of humanitarian law in armed conflicts. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Pejic J (2000) The International Criminal Court Statute: an appraisal of the Rome package. Int Lawyer 34:65–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Pocar F (2002) To what extent is Protocol I customary international law? Int Law Stud 78:337–351

    Google Scholar 

  • Randelzhofer A (1982) Civilian objects. In: Bernhardt R (ed) Encyclopaedia of public international law, vol 3. North-Holland, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Rizer K (2001) Bombing dual-use targets: legal, ethical, and doctrinal perspectives, air & space power journal—chronicles online journal. Available at www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/cc/Rizer.html. Accessed 28 Dec 2010

  • Roberts A (2002) The laws of war after Kosovo. Int Law Stud 78:401–415

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson (1999) Kosovo: an account of the crisis. Available at www.unmikonline.org/DPI/html/reports/modlr.html. Accessed 28 Dec 2010

  • Rogers A (1996) Law on the battlefield. Manchester University Press, Manchester

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers A (2000) Zero-casualty warfare. IRRC 837:165–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Ronzitti N (2000) Is the non liquet of the final report by the committee established to review the NATO bombing campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia acceptable? IRRC 840:1017–1027

    Google Scholar 

  • Rooney B (2003) TV stations bombed to silence Saddam, The Daily Telegraph, London, 27 March 2003

    Google Scholar 

  • Roscini M (2005) Targeting and contemporary aerial bombardment. ICLQ 54:411–444

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roucounas E (1996) Some issues relating to war crimes in air and sea warfare. In: Dinstein Y, Tabory M (eds) War crimes in international law. Kluwer Law International, The Hague

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowe P (2000) Kosovo 1999: the air campaign – have the provisions of additional Protocol I withstood the test? IRRC 837:147–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandoz Y (2002) Commentary. Int Law Stud 78:273–279

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandoz C, Swinarski C, Zimmerman B (eds) (1987) Commentary on the additional protocols of 8 June 1977 to the Geneva conventions of 12 August 1949, Geneva, ICRC and Dordrecht, Martinus Nijhoff

    Google Scholar 

  • Schindler D, Toman J (1998) The laws of armed conflicts, a collection of conventions, resolutions and other documents. Martinus Nijhoff, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmitt M (1998) Future war and the principle of discrimination. Israel YB HR 28:51–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmitt M (1999) The principle of discrimination in 21st century warfare. Yale HR & Dev LJ 2:143–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Shamash H (2005–2006) How much is too much? an examination of the principle of jus in bello proportionality. Israel Def Force Law Rev 2:103–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Spaight J (1944) Legitimate objectives in air warfare. BYIL 21:158–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart J (2007) The UN Commission of inquiry on Lebanon. J Int Crim Justice 5:1039–1059

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turns D (2002) At the ‘vanishing point’ of international humanitarian law: methods and means of warfare in non-international armed conflicts. GYIL 45:115–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Turns D (2007) Implementation and compliance. In: Wilmshurst E, Breau S (eds) Perspectives on the ICRC study on customary international humanitarian law. British Institute of International and Comparative Law and Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, Chatham House, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Vallely P (2003) Journalists perish, looters flourish and medics despair in the chaotic jigsaw of war, The Independent, London, 9 April 2003

    Google Scholar 

  • von der Heydte F (1982) Military objectives. In: Bernhardt R (ed) Encyclopaedia of public international law, vol 3. North-Holland, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • von Hebel H, Robinson D (1999) Crimes within the jurisdiction of the court. In: Lee RSK (ed) The International Criminal Court, the making of the Rome statute, issues, negotiations, results. Kluwer Law International, The Hague

    Google Scholar 

  • Voon T (2001) Pointing the finger: civilian casualties of NATO bombing in the Kosovo conflict. Amer Univ ILR 16:1083–1113

    Google Scholar 

  • Watkin K (2005) Assessing proportionality: moral complexity and legal rules. YIHL 8:3–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright R (2003) Combating civilian casualties: rules and balancing in the developing law of war. Wake Forest LR 38:129–172

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiff University, Wales, UK

    Christine Byron

Authors
  1. Christine Byron
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christine Byron .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Law School, Durham Univerity, 29/30 Old Elvet, Durham, United Kingdom

    M.N. Schmitt

  2. Chatham House, The Royal Institute of International Aff, 10 St. James's Square, London, United Kingdom

    Louise Arimatsu

  3. , Melbourne law School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia

    T. McCormack

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Stichting T.M.C. Asser Instituut, The Hague, and the authors

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Byron, C. (2011). International Humanitarian Law and Bombing Campaigns: Legitimate Military Objectives and Excessive Collateral Damage. In: Schmitt, M., Arimatsu, L., McCormack, T. (eds) Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law - 2010. Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law, vol 13. T.M.C. Asser Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-6704-811-8_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Societies and partnerships

Search

Navigation