Règle correspondante
Belgium
Practice Relating to Rule 8. Definition of Military Objectives
Section H. Areas of land
Belgium’s Regulations on Armoured Infantry Squads (1972) defines the objective of a mission as “a vital area of land to be conquered or defended”.
Belgium, Le Peloton d’Infanterie Blindée, Règlement G 176, Ministère de la Défense Nationale, Etat-Major Général, Force Terrestre, Direction de l’Infanterie, des Paras-Commandos et de la Police Militaire, 1972, p. 3.
Belgium’s Regulations on Tank Squadrons (1982) states that the objective of a tank squadron in attack is “an area of land whose capture requires the enemy’s destruction or withdrawal”.
Belgium, L’Escadron de Chars, Règlement G 287, Ministère de la Défense Nationale, Etat-Major Général, Force Terrestre, Ecole des Troupes Blindées, 1982, § 537(b)(2); see also §§ 536(b)(2) and 539(b)(2).
Belgium’s Regulations on the Tactical Use of Large Units (1994) states: “An objective is the final goal of an action. It is defined as either an area of land of tactical importance or as enemy elements that have to be destroyed or neutralized.”
Belgium, L’Emploi Tactique des Grandes Unités, Règlement G 119, Ministère de la Défense Nationale, Etat-Major Général, Force Terrestre, Sections Operations et Entraînement, 1994 (édition provisoire), § 210.
In an explanatory memorandum submitted to the Belgian Parliament in 1985 in the context of the ratification procedure of the 1977 Additional Protocols, the Belgian Government stated:
The notion of “military objective” must be understood as meaning that a specific zone, as such, which by its location or other criteria enumerated in Article 52 makes an effective contribution to enemy military action, can be considered a military objective.
Belgium, House of Representatives, Explanatory memorandum on a draft bill for the approval of the Additional Protocols, 1984–1985 Session, Doc. 1096-1, 9 January 1985, p. 10.
