Weapons Law

The Law in War: A Concise Overview

The Law in War: A Concise Overview

When we first plotted our plan to write the 1st edition of this book, our goal was to offer an accessible narrative overview of international humanitarian law for both lawyers and non-lawyers interested in the topic. To that end, the original 2018 edition addressed...

Coding the Law of Armed Conflict: First Steps

Coding the Law of Armed Conflict: First Steps

[Editor’s note: The following post highlights a subject addressed in the Lieber Studies volume The Future Law of Armed Conflict, which was published 27 May 2022. For a general introduction to this volume, see Professor Matt Waxman’s introductory post.]   Killer...

Hunter 2-S Swarming Attack Drones: Legal & Ethical Dimensions

Hunter 2-S Swarming Attack Drones: Legal & Ethical Dimensions

Halcon, a defense company based in the United Arab Emirates, unveiled its aerial fleet of swarming drones—Hunter 2-S—at the Unmanned System Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi on February 21, 2022. The small-sized Hunter 2-S modular launching system is the latest...

Are Thermobaric Weapons Lawful?

Are Thermobaric Weapons Lawful?

The Russian Federation has deployed and likely used thermobaric weapons during its invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States alleged that Russia “used the vacuum bomb today, which is actually prohibited by the Geneva Conventions,” while American...

Are Molotov Cocktails Lawful Weapons?

Are Molotov Cocktails Lawful Weapons?

A frequent feature of violent riots and revolts, the Molotov cocktail has reappeared in reports of Ukraine’s preparations to resist the ongoing Russian invasion. Although undoubtedly symbolic of resolve to resist using all means available, whether Ukrainians’ use of...