Contemporary urban warfare

Abstract

This chapter aims to solutions international humanitarian law (IHL) offers to enhance the protection of the civilian population in contemporary urban warfare. It also aims to identify which legal obligations offer solutions for the protection of the civilian population during contemporary urban warfare. However, in contemporary urban warfare, it is tremendously difficult to distinguish between military objectives and the forces of the enemy on the one hand and civilians and civilian objects on the hand, due to their close proximity in the urban setting. Many IHL obligations play a direct or indirect role in the protection of civilians through precautionary measures. The term feasibility is basically the assurance that military and operational considerations may be taken into account when military operations are underway, and the restraints perceived by the rules of IHL are unrealistically focused on the humanitarian side of the coin. The solution to the opponents' lawfare tactics is thus fully ingrained in the obligation to take precautionary measures.