How a conflict is classified determines the scope of protections under IHL, as well as the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and ad hoc tribunals established by the UN Security Council. Although the overall objectives of IHL are the same regardless of the nature of a conflict, there are a number of key differences that make classification important. Specifically, it aims to protect those who do not take part or cease to take part in hostilities during an armed conflict. What is International Humanitarian Law? 2004. IHL lays down a set of rules which seek, for humanitarian reasons, to limit the effects of armed conflict.

It is nevertheless important to underline that a situation can evolve from one type of armed conflict to another, depending on the facts prevailing at a certain moment.The classification of armed hostilities determines whether or not International Humanitarian Law (IHL) applies, and to what extent it provides protections to different actors in an armed conflict. Legally speaking, no other type of armed conflict exists.

IHL treaty law also establishes a distinction between non-international armed conflicts in the meaning of common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and non-international armed conflicts falling within the definition provided in Art. Non-international armed conflicts, between governmental forces and non-governmental armed groups, or between such groups only.

International armed conflicts, opposing two or more States, and International humanitarian law distinguishes two types of armed conflicts, namely: It is on this basis that the ICRC takes this opportunity to present the prevailing legal opinion on the definition of ' international armed conflict ' and ' non-international armed conflict ' under International Humanitarian Law, the branch of international law which governs armed conflict. The States parties to the 1949 Geneva Conventions have entrusted the ICRC, through the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, ' to work for the understanding and dissemination of knowledge of international humanitarian law applicable in armed conflicts and to prepare any development thereof ' Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, art.

Different types of armed conflict