The Israel–Iran conflict and the limits of international law: legal challenges in contemporary armed conflicts
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51247/st.v9iS2.792Keywords:
Israel–Iran conflict; international law; self-defense; cyber operations.Abstract
This study examined the Israel–Iran conflict through the framework of international law, with the objective of analyzing the legal challenges generated by contemporary armed confrontations involving anticipatory self-defense, proxy warfare, cyber operations, and humanitarian obligations. The methodology adopted a qualitative approach based on doctrinal and documentary legal research. Primary sources included the United Nations Charter, international judicial decisions, humanitarian treaties, and rules on state responsibility, while secondary sources were obtained from indexed academic databases. The analytical process employed comparative legal reasoning to assess the compatibility of state practices with established international norms. The results showed that significant ambiguities persist regarding the lawful threshold of preemptive force, the interpretation of imminence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, and the attribution of responsibility for actions conducted through non-state actors. The findings also indicated that cyber operations have exposed important gaps concerning the classification of digital attacks, evidentiary standards, and proportional legal responses. Furthermore, institutional paralysis within the United Nations Security Council was identified as a factor that weakens enforcement and encourages unilateral legal narratives. The study concluded that international law continues to provide an essential normative framework for regulating armed conflict, but its effectiveness is increasingly challenged by hybrid warfare methods and geopolitical fragmentation. Stronger interpretative standards, improved accountability mechanisms, and institutional reforms are necessary to preserve legal certainty and collective security in modern conflicts.
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