"This book introduces the law of war in an age of terrorism. What law of armed conflict (LOAC), or its civilian analog, international humanitarian law (IHL), applies in a particular armed conflict? Are terrorist groups legally bound by that law? What constitutes a war crime? Who is a lawful target in a conflict involving nonstate terrorist groups? What are 'rules of engagement' and who formulates them? Are nuclear weapons contrary to the law of war? What are 'gray zone' conflicts? How are targeting decisions made? How can an autonomous weapon system be bound by law of armed conflict? Has anyone been convicted at Guantánamo and why have US military commissions failed? This textbook takes students and other interested readers through these law of armed conflict questions, and more, explaining each of them in nontechnical terms, with real-world examples and legal opinions from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Yugoslavia and other jurisdictions. From the nineteenth century to today, from courts-martial to the US Supreme Court, from Nuremberg to 9/11, Gary Solis explains, interprets, and applies today's law of war in nontechnical terms"-- Provided by the publisher.

Rules of war, laws of war --Codes, conventions, declarations, and regulations -- Two world wars and their law of armed conflict results -- Protocols and politics -- Conflict status -- Individual battlefield status -- Law of armed conflict's four core principles -- What is a "War Crime"? -- Obedience to orders, the first defense -- Command responsibility -- Ruses and perfidy -- Rules of engagement -- Targeting objects -- Targeting combatants and others -- A.I., Autonomous weapons, drones, and targeted killing -- Torture -- Cyber in the law of armed conflict -- Attacks on cultural property -- The 1980 certain conventional weapons convention -- Gas, biological, chemical and nuclear weapons -- Military commissions -- Security detention and internment.