Switzerland
Practice Relating to Rule 19. Control during the Execution of Attacks
Switzerland’s Basic Military Manual (1987) states: “If the military advantage is disproportionate to the damage, [commanding officers at the battalion or group level, and those of higher ranks,] must cancel or suspend the attack.”
Switzerland’s Regulation on Legal Bases for Conduct during an Engagement (2005) states:
165 The following precautionary measures must be taken into consideration when making decisions, when issuing orders and in particular when conducting military operations.
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167 If it becomes apparent that an attack is directed against an objective that is not military or against a protected object or that the attack causes disproportionate damage to the civilian population or its property in relation to a concrete and direct military advantage, the attack must be stopped immediately.
In 2005, Switzerland withdrew its reservations to Articles 57 and 58 of the 1977 Additional Protocol I.