I believe folks know the important work we're doing at @justsecurity.org, especially in these challenging times. But we made this short video as a reminder! We really need your support this #GivingTuesday. For tax-deductible gifts: justsecurity.org/donate/

My thoughts with Just Security colleagues @rgoodlaw.bsky.social and @tessbridgeman.bsky.social on Saturday's U.S. operations into Venezuela and the international law issues they raised.

With President Trump saying U.S. "knocked out ... a big plant, or a big facility, where the ships come from" in Venezuela campaign. Also told CNN: "It was along the shore." Excellent expert analysis from October by @mikeschmitt.bsky.social: Attacking Drug Cartels in the Territory of Another State

My analysis of the Syrian strikes against ISIS with Just Security EiC @rgoodlaw.bsky.social

My latest - on the Venezuela Blockade. With my friend, Commodore (RAN ret'd) and Professor Rob McLaughlin. With thanks to the ever-professional team at @justsecurity.org

New piece on the duty to investigate the boat strikes under IHRL and LOAC with my @unirdg-law.bsky.social University of Reading Law School colleague Marko Milanovic.

Greatly expanded Q & A regarding Operation Southern Spear, potential operations against Venezuela, tanker seizures, and more. With @justsecurity.org colleagues @tessbridgeman.bsky.social & @rgoodlaw.bsky.social. Feel free to send more questions via the link at the end of the piece.

Excellent step-by-step analysis of the legal issues in the Trump administration's murderous boat-strike campaign by @tessbridgeman.bsky.social @mikeschmitt.bsky.social & @rgoodlaw.bsky.social in @justsecurity.org--starting with no NIAC and ending with no targets: www.justsecurity.org/126553/opera...

On the international targeting rules governing the campaign against the drug boats. BLUF, there is no international law basis for targeting the boats or the persons and drugs aboard them. With my @justsecurity.org colleagues, Co-Editors-in-Chief @tessbridgeman.bsky.social & @rgoodlaw.bsky.social.

Here we go -a few reminders to those covering this: - These are killings outside of armed conflict - There is no self-defense justification for the killings - That makes them extrajudicial killings under int'l law; murder under domestic law - No label ("narcoterrorist" or "DTO") changes any of that

As with past strikes: - Carrying drugs, if true, cannot constitute hostilities or an armed attack. - Killing [likely unknown] people paid to ferry drugs for an undisclosed group we're not at war with is not "combat." It is murder. Qs that need answering: www.justsecurity.org/126322/boat-...

Pleased to speak with the CBC yesterday about the latest developments in the Trump administration's killing spree at sea and the possibility of a US military intervention in Venezuela. www.cbc.ca/player/play/...

. #Proportionality is one of the most widely used concepts in international law. However, its recurrence across different legal regimes should not lead to the mistaken assumption that it carries a single meaning, argues @mikeschmitt.bsky.social. lieber.westpoint.edu/parsing-prop...

(3/3) With thanks to our authors this week: Jeremy Chin Georgio Konstandi Margaret Lin Marko Milanovic @mikeschmitt.bsky.social @mrazeeq.bsky.social Naomi Roht-Arriaza Pavlina Pavlova @rgoodlaw.bsky.social @scott-levy.bsky.social Thomas E. Brzozowski @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social

My latest ... on the many faces of proportionality in international law. In honor of my dear friend Francoise Hampson, whom we all miss very much. lieber.westpoint.edu/parsing-prop...

Analysis of intelligence sharing in the context of the boat strikes with my friends @rgoodlaw.bsky.social and Marko Milanovic. Professional and personal pleasure to team up with these superstars.

(1/2) Catch up on our recent analysis: • Veterans Day • Russia-Ukraine War • U.S. military / Immigration • Israel-Hamas War • Anti-corruption series • Afghanistan • Violent extremism • Trump executive actions • U.S. foreign policy / Nigeria • Data privacy • Latin America

My newest piece, with my friend @rgoodlaw.bsky.social and NYU's Anna Jimenez.

See my discussion with Jane Coaston on this here: crooked.com/podcast/trum... 2/3

And the @justsecurity.org collection of analysis, podcasts, and informational resources here: www.justsecurity.org/120753/colle...

Interested in the ways that the Caribbean (and Pacific) drug strikes are unlawful? @justsecurity.org has 15 Articles (!) from experts @becingber.bsky.social @bcfinucane.bsky.social @martylederman.bsky.social @seharrison7.bsky.social @mikeschmitt.bsky.social www.justsecurity.org/120753/colle...

Professor @mikeschmitt.bsky.social writes in @justsecurity.org on the legal rules applicable to prospective US attacks on drug cartels in the territory of other states.

My latest on the possibility of conducting counter-drug strikes into the territory of other States.

Qs Congress & press need to ask: -What group were those killed associated with? What were their roles? Who were they? -Will you explain the reasoning in OLC's opinion purporting to justify these killings? -Do you believe you have authority to summarily kill US citizens involved in the drug trade?

My thoughts on the unlawful Russian flights into NATO airspace and the legal grounds for responding to them forcibly

The United States’ Dirty War on “Narco Terrorism” By Ben Saul, Challis Chair of International Law at The University of Sydney and United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism

(3/3) With thanks to our authors this week: Jeremy Venook Jesse Marks Jon Temin @jwrchappell.bsky.social Maggie Lin Michael Pusic @mikeschmitt.bsky.social @milleridriss.bsky.social Peter J. Quaranto Priyanka Motaparthy @rgoodlaw.bsky.social @richardgowan1.bsky.social Siven Watt Wells Dixon

And if folks are interested in rebuttals to the arguments for premeditated killings in the Caribbean, I would recommend listening from the ~23 minute mark onwards.

And @mikeschmitt.bsky.social !

Quoted in this WP story on attacking drug cartels. For a fuller discussion of my views on some of the legal issues, see my @justsecurity.org piece last week. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Kudos to General Mark Welsh, former Chief of Staff of the Air Force, for doing the right thing and resigning as President of Texas A & M when one of his people was mistreated. Silence and inaction is complicity. www.washingtonpost.com/national/202...

Leading legal expert analyzes the Israeli airstrike on Hamas leadership in Doha, Qatar. Striking Hamas in Qatar: "Unwilling or Unable”? By professor @mikeschmitt.bsky.social www.justsecurity.org/120727/israe...

My thoughts on the airstrike into Qatar against Hamas leaders.

Read Brian Finucane’s analysis on the second counter-narcotics strike. As I wrote in my own @justsecurity.org piece last week, I see no legal basis for these strikes. I wa shooing cooler heads would prevail after the first misstep.

After nearly a decade in the position, I have stepped down as the G. Norman Lieber Distinguished Scholar at West Point. I look forward to continuing to work alongside my great colleagues at the University of Reading Law School and the U.S. Naval War College's Stockton Center for International Law.

New book alert! 📚 "Perpetual War and International Law: Enduring Legacies of the War on Terror" (OUP), ed @briannarosen.bsky.social. Marking 24th anniversary of #September11, it offers a timely reflection on how the post-9/11 era shapes contemporary conflicts. www.justsecurity.org/120313/perpe...

My thoughts on the Tren de Aragua speedboat strike.

Two years ago, I concluded, “Calls for a peace agreement contemplating territorial transfer are legally (and, in my view, practically and ethically) flawed.” I haven’t changed my mind. lieber.westpoint.edu/territorial-...

Reportedly, Israeli settlers/soldiers have killed 5 US citizens in the #WestBank since 2023 Hamas attack. @mikeschmitt.bsky.social & Julia Flores examine occupying power’s obligation to maintain public order & ensure security of persons within occup. territory. lieber.westpoint.edu/protecting-i...

Latest @articlesofwar.bsky.social post by Professor @mikeschmitt.bsky.social

My latest, on settler violence in the West Bank, with Major Julia Flores of the Naval War College's Stockton Center.

IDF has conducted so-called #targetedkillings of #scientists working on #Iran’s nuclear development program. @mikeschmitt.bsky.social analyzes in his post IDF’s #targeting of Iranian nuclear scientists from the law of armed conflict perspective. lieber.westpoint.edu/attacking-sc...

Operation #RisingLion sparked a sophisticated debate over the parameters of the international law right of #selfdefense. @mikeschmitt.bsky.social asks when it is appropriate for States to reinterpret long-held international law rules. lieber.westpoint.edu/interpreting...

Please consider submitting!

<Thread> I figure I need to explain how extreme and irresponsible is the June 7 Memorandum federalizing the National Guard and authorizing regular armed forces. Those saying anything in support of this action may not realize what they’ve gotten into. (It will also escalate from here.) Preview⤵️

❗️Come and join the Legal Division of the @ICRC! ✴️ Turn your vision for a better world, your belief in justice and humanity, in the protective power of the law, into #IHL advocacy. careers.icrc.org/job/Geneva-%...

@mikeschmitt.bsky.social & Alex Hernandez survey the law governing an occupying power’s #seizure of #privateproperty and explore the transfer of an occupying power’s nationals into the territory it occupies. lieber.westpoint.edu/seizure-priv...

My thoughts with Major Alex Hernandez on Russia's seizure of real property in occupied territory and the transfer of Russian nationals into the area.

Professor @mikeschmitt.bsky.social has co-authored a two-part series on the international law bearing on State support to non-state actors engaging in hostilities against another State. Part I is here:

For @articlesofwar.bsky.social, Professor @mikeschmitt.bsky.social has co-authored a post on the use of civilians as human shields by a military force from the perspective of the law of armed conflict and international criminal law.