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Mike Schmitt @mikeschmitt.bsky.social · 13d

My thoughts on the unlawful Russian flights into NATO airspace and the legal grounds for responding to them forcibly

Just Security @justsecurity.org · 13d

Legally Available Options in Response to Russia’s Penetrations of NATO Airspace

By leading legal expert @mikeschmitt.bsky.social

#NATO #RussiaUkraineWar

www.justsecurity.org/121527/russi...

Legally Available Options in Response to Russia's Penetrations of NATO Airspace

Top legal expert analyzes options for NATO member States to use force in response to Russian intrusions in airspace.

www.justsecurity.org

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Reposted by Mike Schmitt

Just Security @justsecurity.org · 20d

The United States’ Dirty War on “Narco Terrorism”

By Ben Saul, Challis Chair of International Law at The University of Sydney and United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism

The United States’ Dirty War on “Narco Terrorism”

United Nations Special Rapporteur Ben Saul writes about the U.S. military strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats.

www.justsecurity.org

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Reposted by Mike Schmitt

Just Security @justsecurity.org · 23d

(3/3) With thanks to our authors this week:

Jeremy Venook
Jesse Marks
Jon Temin
@jwrchappell.bsky.social
Maggie Lin
Michael Pusic
@mikeschmitt.bsky.social
@milleridriss.bsky.social
Peter J. Quaranto
Priyanka Motaparthy
@rgoodlaw.bsky.social
@richardgowan1.bsky.social
Siven Watt
Wells Dixon

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Reposted by Mike Schmitt

Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 22d

And if folks are interested in rebuttals to the arguments for premeditated killings in the Caribbean, I would recommend listening from the ~23 minute mark onwards.

Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 25d

Pleased to discuss the legal issues raised by lethal US strikes in the Caribbean on the @thebrianlehrershow.bsky.social today.

www.wnyc.org/story/are-th...

Are the Lethal U.S. Strikes on Venezuelan Boats Legal? | The Brian Lehrer Show | WNYC

The Trump administration's recent lethal strikes on purported drug boats in Venezuela drew widespread condemnation from experts in international law. Brian Finucane, senior adviser at...

www.wnyc.org

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Reposted by Mike Schmitt

Rebecca Ingber @becingber.bsky.social · 23d

And @mikeschmitt.bsky.social !

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Mike Schmitt @mikeschmitt.bsky.social · 23d

Quoted in this WP story on attacking drug cartels. For a fuller discussion of my views on some of the legal issues, see my @justsecurity.org piece last week. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

DEA faced pushback at White House, Pentagon after urging Mexico strikes

The suggestion, though not acted upon, was met with alarm from officials who warned that Congress has not authorized such action.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Mike Schmitt @mikeschmitt.bsky.social · 23d

Kudos to General Mark Welsh, former Chief of Staff of the Air Force, for doing the right thing and resigning as President of Texas A & M when one of his people was mistreated. Silence and inaction is complicity. www.washingtonpost.com/national/202...

Texas A&M president is stepping down after upheaval over classroom video

Texas A&M University’s president is stepping down after facing criticism over a classroom video that showed a student objecting to a children’s literature lesson about gender, which led to the profess...

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Mike Schmitt

Just Security @justsecurity.org · 26d

Leading legal expert analyzes the Israeli airstrike on Hamas leadership in Doha, Qatar.

Striking Hamas in Qatar: "Unwilling or Unable”?
By professor @mikeschmitt.bsky.social

www.justsecurity.org/120727/israe...

Striking Hamas in Qatar: "Unwilling or Unable”?

Legal analysis of the Israeli airstrike against Hamas leadership in Doha, Qatar.

www.justsecurity.org

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Mike Schmitt @mikeschmitt.bsky.social · 26d

My thoughts on the airstrike into Qatar against Hamas leaders.

Just Security @justsecurity.org · 26d

Leading legal expert analyzes the Israeli airstrike on Hamas leadership in Doha, Qatar.

Striking Hamas in Qatar: "Unwilling or Unable”?
By professor @mikeschmitt.bsky.social

www.justsecurity.org/120727/israe...

Striking Hamas in Qatar: "Unwilling or Unable”?

Legal analysis of the Israeli airstrike against Hamas leadership in Doha, Qatar.

www.justsecurity.org

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Mike Schmitt @mikeschmitt.bsky.social · 27d

Read Brian Finucane’s analysis on the second counter-narcotics strike. As I wrote in my own @justsecurity.org piece last week, I see no legal basis for these strikes. I wa shooing cooler heads would prevail after the first misstep.

Just Security @justsecurity.org · 27d

The lethal U.S. strike in the Caribbean that killed 11 people doesn’t fit the counterterrorism justification, writes @bcfinucane.bsky.social.

The lack of legal basis suggests the Trump administration may be asserting a prerogative to kill outside the law:

Asserting a License to Kill: Why the Caribbean Strike is a Dangerous Departure from the “War on Terror”

An absence of credible legal basis for the Caribbean strike suggests the Trump admin is asserting a prerogative to kill outside the law.

www.justsecurity.org

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Mike Schmitt @mikeschmitt.bsky.social · Sep 11

After nearly a decade in the position, I have stepped down as the G. Norman Lieber Distinguished Scholar at West Point. I look forward to continuing to work alongside my great colleagues at the University of Reading Law School and the U.S. Naval War College's Stockton Center for International Law.

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Reposted by Mike Schmitt

Just Security @justsecurity.org · Sep 11

New book alert! 📚
"Perpetual War and International Law: Enduring Legacies of the War on Terror" (OUP), ed @briannarosen.bsky.social.

Marking 24th anniversary of #September11, it offers a timely reflection on how the post-9/11 era shapes contemporary conflicts.
www.justsecurity.org/120313/perpe...

Book Release – Perpetual War and International Law: Enduring Legacies of the War on Terror

Introducing a new book series confronting the enduring legacies of the post-9/11 era and exploring viable alternatives to the use of force.

www.justsecurity.org

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Mike Schmitt @mikeschmitt.bsky.social · Sep 10

My thoughts on the Tren de Aragua speedboat strike.

Just Security @justsecurity.org · Sep 10

Striking Drug Cartels under the Jus ad Bellum and Law of Armed Conflict

By top laws of war expert @mikeschmitt.bsky.social

www.justsecurity.org/120235/drug-...

Striking Drug Cartels under the Jus ad Bellum and Law of Armed Conflict

Legal expert discusses laws of war and law on the resort to force in U.S. military action against Venezuela's Tren de Aragua.

www.justsecurity.org

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Mike Schmitt @mikeschmitt.bsky.social · Aug 12

Two years ago, I concluded, “Calls for a peace agreement contemplating territorial transfer are legally (and, in my view, practically and ethically) flawed.” I haven’t changed my mind. lieber.westpoint.edu/territorial-...

Ukraine Symposium - Territorial Acquisition and Armed Conflict - Lieber Institute West Point

Any agreement between Ukraine and Russia for territorial acquisition for the benefit of the latter would be void under the law of treaties.

lieber.westpoint.edu

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Reposted by Mike Schmitt

Articles of War @articlesofwar.bsky.social · Jul 22

Reportedly, Israeli settlers/soldiers have killed 5 US citizens in the #WestBank since 2023 Hamas attack. @mikeschmitt.bsky.social & Julia Flores examine occupying power’s obligation to maintain public order & ensure security of persons within occup. territory. lieber.westpoint.edu/protecting-i...

Protecting Inhabitants of Occupied Territory: Settler Violence in the West Bank - Lieber Institute West Point

Obligation of an Occupying Power to ensure public order/safety in occupied territory is a tenet of the law of belligerent occupation.

lieber.westpoint.edu

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Reposted by Mike Schmitt

Reading Law School @unirdg-law.bsky.social · Jul 24

Latest @articlesofwar.bsky.social post by Professor @mikeschmitt.bsky.social

Articles of War @articlesofwar.bsky.social · Jul 22

Reportedly, Israeli settlers/soldiers have killed 5 US citizens in the #WestBank since 2023 Hamas attack. @mikeschmitt.bsky.social & Julia Flores examine occupying power’s obligation to maintain public order & ensure security of persons within occup. territory. lieber.westpoint.edu/protecting-i...

Protecting Inhabitants of Occupied Territory: Settler Violence in the West Bank - Lieber Institute West Point

Obligation of an Occupying Power to ensure public order/safety in occupied territory is a tenet of the law of belligerent occupation.

lieber.westpoint.edu

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Mike Schmitt @mikeschmitt.bsky.social · Jul 23

My latest, on settler violence in the West Bank, with Major Julia Flores of the Naval War College's Stockton Center.

Articles of War @articlesofwar.bsky.social · Jul 22

Reportedly, Israeli settlers/soldiers have killed 5 US citizens in the #WestBank since 2023 Hamas attack. @mikeschmitt.bsky.social & Julia Flores examine occupying power’s obligation to maintain public order & ensure security of persons within occup. territory. lieber.westpoint.edu/protecting-i...

Protecting Inhabitants of Occupied Territory: Settler Violence in the West Bank - Lieber Institute West Point

Obligation of an Occupying Power to ensure public order/safety in occupied territory is a tenet of the law of belligerent occupation.

lieber.westpoint.edu

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Reposted by Mike Schmitt

Articles of War @articlesofwar.bsky.social · Jun 18

IDF has conducted so-called #targetedkillings of #scientists working on #Iran’s nuclear development program.
@mikeschmitt.bsky.social analyzes in his post IDF’s #targeting of Iranian nuclear scientists from the law of armed conflict perspective. lieber.westpoint.edu/attacking-sc...

Attacking Scientists and the Law of Armed Conflict - Lieber Institute West Point

On June 13, 2025, IDF conducted so-called “targeted killings” of scientists working on Iran’s nuclear development program.

lieber.westpoint.edu

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Reposted by Mike Schmitt

Articles of War @articlesofwar.bsky.social · Jun 27

Operation #RisingLion sparked a sophisticated debate over the parameters of the international law right of #selfdefense. @mikeschmitt.bsky.social asks when it is appropriate for States to reinterpret long-held international law rules. lieber.westpoint.edu/interpreting...

Interpreting the Law of Self-Defense - Lieber Institute West Point

There is no question that the law of self-defense, especially that governing anticipatory self-defense, leaves room for interpretation.

lieber.westpoint.edu

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Reposted by Mike Schmitt

Eliav Lieblich @eliavl.bsky.social · Apr 30

Please consider submitting!

Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law @yearbookofihl.bsky.social · Apr 30

📢 Our #callforpapers for Volume 28 (2025) is now out!

📖 Theme: "Facts in International Humanitarian Law"

📅 Abstract deadline: 13 June

More info: www.asser.nl/asserpress/d...

#IHL #LOAC

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Reposted by Mike Schmitt

Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · Jun 9

<Thread>

I figure I need to explain how extreme and irresponsible is the June 7 Memorandum federalizing the National Guard and authorizing regular armed forces.

Those saying anything in support of this action may not realize what they’ve gotten into.

(It will also escalate from here.)

Preview⤵️

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Reposted by Mike Schmitt

Cordula Droege @corduladroege.bsky.social · May 18

❗️Come and join the Legal Division of the @ICRC!

✴️ Turn your vision for a better world, your belief in justice and humanity, in the protective power of the law, into #IHL advocacy.

careers.icrc.org/job/Geneva-%...

Associate for the Legal Division

careers.icrc.org

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Reposted by Mike Schmitt

Articles of War @articlesofwar.bsky.social · Jun 4

@mikeschmitt.bsky.social & Alex Hernandez survey the law governing an occupying power’s #seizure of #privateproperty and explore the transfer of an occupying power’s nationals into the territory it occupies. lieber.westpoint.edu/seizure-priv...

Ukraine Symposium – Seizure of Private Real Property and Transfer of Civilians into Occupied Territory - Lieber Institute West Point

The law clearly prohibits the seizure of private real property and the transfer of the occupying power’s nationals into occupied territory.

lieber.westpoint.edu

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Mike Schmitt @mikeschmitt.bsky.social · Jun 5

My thoughts with Major Alex Hernandez on Russia's seizure of real property in occupied territory and the transfer of Russian nationals into the area.

Articles of War @articlesofwar.bsky.social · Jun 4

@mikeschmitt.bsky.social & Alex Hernandez survey the law governing an occupying power’s #seizure of #privateproperty and explore the transfer of an occupying power’s nationals into the territory it occupies. lieber.westpoint.edu/seizure-priv...

Ukraine Symposium – Seizure of Private Real Property and Transfer of Civilians into Occupied Territory - Lieber Institute West Point

The law clearly prohibits the seizure of private real property and the transfer of the occupying power’s nationals into occupied territory.

lieber.westpoint.edu

Reposted by Mike Schmitt

Reading Law School @unirdg-law.bsky.social · May 12

Professor @mikeschmitt.bsky.social has co-authored a two-part series on the international law bearing on State support to non-state actors engaging in hostilities against another State. Part I is here:

Articles of War @articlesofwar.bsky.social · May 7

Armed conflicts are frequently characterized by State support to #nonStateactors. @mikeschmitt.bsky.social & Alex Hernandez provide a normative framework for analyzing one State’s support to non-State actors engaged in hostile activities directed at another. lieber.westpoint.edu/analyzing-st...

Analyzing State Support to Non-State Actors – Part I: Primary Obligations and Attribution - Lieber Institute West Point

Armed conflicts are frequently characterized by State support to non-State actors as a means of advancing the former’s strategic objectives.

lieber.westpoint.edu

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