Abstract:
This article reviews the conduct of hostilities in urban areas and the challenges it poses to international humanitarian law. Humanitarian law insulates civilians and civilian objects from the dangers of warfare, except for collateral damage. Armed conflict is regulated by fundamental principles such as distinction, proportionality and precaution, which are difficult to respect when warfare is urbanized. The consequence is the breach of protection for civilians and civilian objects: the loss of millions of civilian lives, destruction of homes, hospitals, schools, and other critical civilian infrastructure. The article argues that the conduct of warfare in urban settings weaken the protections available to civilians.
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