Documentation, analysis, and prevention of the harmful effects of armed conflict on populations are established public health priorities [1–5]. Although public health research on war is increasingly framed in human rights terms [6–13], general public health methods are typically applied without direct links to laws of war. Laws of war are international humanitarian laws and customary standards ...

Abstract War and international humanitarian law (IHL) exist evolve in a synergistic relationship. On the one hand, treaty customary norms can proactively shape warfare. But on other, changes nature of warfare often determine IHL’s path forward, for if IHL is to remain effective, it must responsive context which be applied. This article offers tentative reflections how future conflict may affect...