The Law of Armed Conflict: International Humanitarian Law in War - Hardcover

“Anyone involved with international humanitarian law -- academics, commanders and Soldiers, cadets, concerned citizens -- should be delighted that Professor Solis has devoted his expertise to writing [this] textbook...He combines academic rigor and expertise with experience as a combat Marine to communicate how these issues unfold on the ground...The broad coverage of essential international humanitarian law should make it a vade mecum for upper division undergraduate students as well as those in law school...Any tactical legal advisor should make sure this is the first item packed in his or her rucksack...With this outstanding textbook, Professor Solis makes a broad contribution to the study of an area of the law that is critical to the manner in which countries, armed forces, and individuals conduct themselves.”
--Patrick Finnegan, Brigadier General, United States Army, Academic Dean, United States Military Academy
“The law of armed conflict matters. This superb book is an extraordinarily rich discussion of the law of armed conflict written by a combat veteran with a true understanding of the importance of such laws for effective democratic nation war fighting. It should quickly become a standard teaching manual.”
--John Norton Moore, Director, Center for National Security Law & former Chairman of the Board, the United States Institute of Peace, Professor of Law, University of Virginia School of Law
“This is the book that teachers of the law of armed conflict have been waiting for. It tackles the controversial areas with a wealth of historical and legal reference material as well as comments on recent US practice. A real bonus is that it is interestingly and lucidly written - one always wants to read more.”
--Major-General (ret.) A. P. V. Rogers, Fellow of the Lauterpacht Research Centre for International Law, University of Cambridge
“This is a most helpful guide to the law of armed conflict, designed for law students and undergraduates. Although structured as a textbook, it has a large dose of cases and materials. The book is written by an accomplished teacher with invaluable military experience.”
--Yoram Dinstein, Professor Emeritus of International Law and Human Rights, Tel-Aviv University

The Law of Armed Conflict: International Humanitarian Law in War introduces law students and undergraduates to the law of war in an age of terrorism. What law of armed conflict/international humanitarian law applies to particular armed conflicts? Does that law apply to terrorists as well? What is the status of participants in an armed conflict? What constitutes a war crime? What is a lawful target and how are targeting decisions made? What are rules of engagement? What weapons are lawful and unlawful, and why? This text takes the reader through these essential questions of the law of armed conflict and international humanitarian law to an awareness of finer points of battlefield law. The U.S.-weighted text incorporates lessons from many nations and includes hundreds of cases from jurisdictions worldwide.