IHL is a branch of public international law that regulates the conduct of hostilities and protects persons who are not, or are no longer, participating in combat.
: It limits the means (weapons used) and methods (tactics employed) of warfare to minimize unnecessary suffering. IHL is a branch of public international law
: It safeguards civilians and those hors de combat (out of the fight), such as the wounded, sick, and prisoners of war. : The use of weapons or tactics that
: The use of weapons or tactics that cause "superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering" is strictly forbidden. 3. Legal Sources of IHL The rules of IHL are derived from several primary sources: International Humanitarian Law - ICRC 2. The Four Fundamental Pillars
: Crucially, IHL is distinct from jus ad bellum , which governs the legality of going to war in the first place; IHL ( jus in bello ) applies once a conflict has started, regardless of its cause. 2. The Four Fundamental Pillars