Oral History and Military Publishing

Obligation of Proportionality

The U.S. Army’s “Law of Land Warfare” field manual defines the legal obligation of proportionality as requiring “commanders to refrain from attacks in which the expected loss or injury to civilians and damage to civilian objects incidental to such attacks would be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage expected to be gained.”

It also requires that commanders “take feasible precautions to reduce the risk of harm to civilians, other protected persons and civilian objects.”