Abstract:
States are increasingly involved in violent conflicts with non-state actors. This new situation
challenges the classical distinction of international humanitarian law (IHL) between international and
non-international armed conflicts. However, it does not lessen the importance of IHL. The essence of
this body of law – to protect civilians and those out of combat and to lessen unnecessary harm during
armed conflict – remains the same. This paper examines the question as to what extent the existing
body of humanitarian law applies to transnational conflicts.
