Spain
Practice Relating to Rule 12. Definition of Indiscriminate Attacks
Spain’s LOAC Manual (1996) states: “ Indiscriminate attacks are those … which are not directed at a specific military objective”.
Spain’s LOAC Manual (2007) includes in its definition of indiscriminate attacks “attacks that are not directed at a specific military objective”.
Spain’s LOAC Manual (1996) states:
Indiscriminate military objectives are those in which military objects and civilian and civil objects cannot be distinguished and therefore attacking them will cause civilian damages excessive in relation to the direct military advantage anticipated. Indiscriminate attacks are prohibited. Indiscriminate attacks are those:
…
- which employ a method or means which cannot be directed at a specific military objective.
Spain’s LOAC Manual (2007) includes in its definition of indiscriminate attacks “attacks that employ a method or means of combat which cannot be directed at a specific military objective”.
Spain’s LOAC Manual (1996) states: “Prohibited indiscriminate attacks are: … those which employ a method or means of combat the effect of which cannot be limited as required by [the 1977 Additional Protocol I].”
Spain’s LOAC Manual (2007) includes in its definition of indiscriminate attacks: “attacks that employ a method or means of combat that has effects that cannot be limited”.
In 2010, in the
Couso case, which concerned the killing of a Spanish journalist in Baghdad on 8 April 2003 by troops of the United States of America, the Criminal Chamber of Spain’s Supreme Court referred to norms of IHL relevant to the case under review, including Article 51(4)(c) of the 1977 Additional Protocol I.