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What Is the Principle of Distinction in IHL?
The principle of distinction requires parties to a conflict to direct attacks only at combatants and military objectives, never at civilians or civilian objects.
Distinction is often called the cornerstone of International Humanitarian Law. Every other targeting rule — proportionality, precautions in attack, the prohibition of indiscriminate attacks — assumes that a party to the conflict has first answered two questions: who may lawfully be attacked, and what may lawfully be attacked.
This topic walks through the principle as codified in Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions and reflected in customary international law. Each page pairs the legal rule with the practical judgement calls it demands in the field, and connects directly to scenarios you can build and analyze in the tactical sandbox.
These pages are written for training and education. They explain the legal framework in operational terms; they are not legal advice for the conduct of real operations.