Targeting and Contemporary Aerial Bombardment

Abstract

The article analyses certain legal problems related to air warfare. In particular, it investigates the application of the principles of distinction and proportionality to contemporary air warfare and tries to identify what can be lawfully targeted and what cannot. The article concludes that the position of the United States on the one hand and of the European states on the other is different with regard to many international humanitarian law issues.

Keywords: targeting, air warfare, military objective, combatant and civilian status, international humanitarian law, natural environment, proportionality

JEL Classification: K33