Legality of Americas Military Action Against Terrorism in Iraq from the Perspective of International Law

Abstract

This paper mainly studies the legality of military action against terrorism under international law. It takes the anti-terrorism action of America in Iraq in 2003 as a case (Iraq war). It judges its legality and necessity by linking the action with legislations such as International Humanitarian Law and the (Third) Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (of August 12, 1949). In the early stage of the article, the author traces the origin and defines the word 'terrorism' while introducing the counterterrorism acts enacted by the United Kingdom between 2000 and 2015 by summarizing the viewpoints of the reference. The author concludes that under the assumption that Iraq does meet the condition of conviction, some military actions of the United States violate international law and go beyond the necessary scope of anti-terrorism.