Preliminary definitions

Hostilities

1. The present book deals with the conduct of hostilities governed by the law of international armed conflict (LOIAC). The locution ‘hostilities’ is a portmanteau term embracing the employment of means and methods of warfare. ‘Methods of warfare’ are operational modes – illustrated in Chapter 8 – used by the Parties to an international armed conflict (hereinafter: the Belligerent Parties) and involving attacks (defined infra 4), as well as some ancillary measures (e.g., detention or capture) against persons or property. ‘Means of warfare’ consist chiefly of weapons and matériel (such as means of communications and signalling devices). ‘Weapons’ – examined in Chapter 3 – include any arms (for instance, missile launchers, artillery guns and rifles), munitions (for example, missile, bombs, mines, shells and bullets) and other devices, components or mechanisms intended to destroy, disable or injure enemy personnel, matériel or property. Weapons encompass also weapon systems (with diverse external guidance means) or platforms. A particular reference must be made to warships (defined infra 273), military aircraft (defined infra 285) and tanks.

2. Acts of violence – committed by or on behalf of Belligerent Parties – constitute the centre of gravity of hostilities. ‘Violence’, as a vital ingredient of hostilities, means acts that cause injury to human beings – either loss of life or other harm, whether physical or mental – or destruction of (or damage to) property. For a specific act of violence to fit this matrix in warfare, it need not take the form of a massive air bombardment or an artillery barrage: a small-scale attack (such as a single bullet fired by a sniper) will do.