Italy
Practice Relating to Rule 1. The Principle of Distinction between Civilians and Combatants
Section B. Attacks against combatants
According to Italy’s IHL Manual (1991), armed forces may be attacked.
Italy’s LOAC Elementary Rules Manual (1991) states: “Combatants may participate directly in hostilities and may be attacked.”
According to Italy’s Law of War Decree (1938), as amended in 1992, armed forces may be attacked.
Upon ratification of the 1977 Additional Protocol I, Italy declared:
The first sentence of paragraph 2 of [Article 52] prohibits only such attacks as may be directed against non-military objectives. Such a sentence does not deal with the question of collateral damage caused by attacks directed against military objectives.