what are the laws of war

The laws of war, also known as international humanitarian law (IHL), are a set of international rules that regulate the conditions for initiating war (jus ad bellum) and the conduct of warring parties (jus in bello) . The main purpose of IHL is to maintain some humanity in armed conflicts, saving lives and reducing suffering by regulating how wars are fought, balancing two aspects: weakening the enemy and limiting suffering. The rules of war are universal and have been ratified by all 196 states. The laws of war define sovereignty and nationhood, states and territories, occupation, and other critical terms of law. Some of the central principles underlying the laws of war are no targeting civilians, no torture or inhumane treatment of detainees, no attacking hospitals and aid workers, and providing safe passage. The laws of war are considered distinct from other bodies of law, such as the domestic law of a particular belligerent to a conflict, which may provide additional legal limits to the conduct or justification of war. The law of war is of fundamental importance to the Armed Forces of the United States.