Concept of Military Objectives in International Law and Targeting Practice

Agnieszka Jachec-Neale is an Associate Fellow for Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), UK. Her research explores legal and doctrinal aspects of targeting and military operational practice, and examines the application of technological advancements in modern warfare. She has over 5 years' experience working with international organisations in south eastern Europe, where specialised in monitoring domestic war crimes trials and in the enforcement of human rights standards in emerging democracies.

"The law of targeting lies at the heart of international humanitarian law and no aspect of targeting is more central than the concept of military objective. Dr. Jachec-Neale has produced a masterful study of the subject that comprehensively surveys and analyzes the problematic issues it raises while placing them in a real-world contexts. It is a work that will not only be of great value to scholars and jurists, but also prove of inestimable practical use to military legal advisers and operators responsible for planning, approving, and executing attacks consistent with international humanitarian law on the battlefield."Professor Michael N. Schmitt, Director of The Stockton Center, US Naval War College Professor of Public International Law, Exeter University Senior Fellow, NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence"This is a very important work for three reasons. First, surprisingly, it is the first monograph on the subject since the adoption of the definition of military objective in 1977. Second, the quality of the research means that both the law and the practice are thoroughly covered. Third, and most important, it takes an original approach to the relevance and use of military doctrine that has implications for the study of other areas of the law of armed conflict."Professor Françoise Hampson, University of Essex."

• 1. Introduction Part I: The Concept and Definition of Military Objective 2. The concept of Military Objective 3. Nature, Location, Use and Purpose 4. Effective Contribution to Military Action 5. Definite Military Advantage 6. Methods of Achieving Military Advantage 7. Problematic Cases Part II: Operationalization of the Definition of Military Objective 8. Military Doctrine and International Law 9. Problems of Legal Interoperability in Relation to the Identification of Lawful Targets 10. Conclusion