Legality of Counterterrorism Raids by Special Forces in International Law With Reference to Actions...

8/10/2019 Legality of Counterterrorism Raids by Special Forces in International Law With Reference to Actions by Joint Specia

1/29

Legality of counterterrorism raids by Special Forces in

International Law: with reference to actions by Joint

Special Operations Command

Introduction

Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) is a US and allied

commando unit, famously killing Osama Bin Laden. It leads a secret

glo!al "ar# against al$%aeda !y capturing and&or killing mem!ers of t'e

terrorist net"ork, and is a maor part of t'e O!ama administrations#

counterterrorism strategy. *'is essay focuses on t'ese e+traterritorial

counterterror raids, "'ere commando teams are transported to a foreign

country, gain entry to targeted premises and capture or kill t'e target.

JSOC 'as operated in Somalia, lgeria, t'e -'ilippines, Indonesia,

-akistan, *'ailand, ali, /emen, Colom!ia, -eru, 0arious 1uropean and

Central sian Countries, as "ell as Ira2 and fg'anistan. 3o"e0er t'is

essay focuses on raids unconnected to t'e Ira2&fg'anistan "ars.4*'is

essay looks at5 'o" raids are classified as armed conflicts6 t'e legality of

using of force in counterterror raids, including self$defence and

agreement&ac2uiescence of t'e territorial State6 "'et'er terrorists are

legal targets6 t'e legality of targeted killing&capture under International

1J. Scahill, Dirty Wars (London: Serpents Tail, 2013) 2432n.1 aboe, 1!3

1


2/29

3umanitarian La" (I3L)6 urisdictional issues in relation to International

3uman 7ig'ts La" (I37L)6 depri0ations of rig'ts to life and li!erty6

applica!ility of derogations6 'o" I3L and I37L "ork toget'er in t'is

conte+t. *'oug' JSOC 'as engaged in targeted killing, it is not solely an

assassination programme, 89$8:; of raids capture targets peacefully. t'e

Dictim State could only use force on grounds of self$defence, as a la"ful

e+ception.:*'erefore, t'e use of counterterrorism raids could !e a legal

use of force in circumstances "'ere t'e Dictim State is acting in self$

defence and 'as no ot'er met'od of pre0enting terrorist attacks.

If t'e use of force is "it'out territorial State co$operation on self$

defence grounds, t'e actions "ould !e classed as an international

armed conflict, "it' t'e operating State acting against t'e territorial

State, despite targeting terrorists, due to t'e illegal territorial

infringement.@If raids are carried out !y co$operating "it' t'e territorial14n. aboe, 464-1/* Sec5rit= "o5ncil 7esol5tion 13-3 (2001)1>. Trapp, T"e Use of Force against Terrorists: A &e(ly to /"ristian 0, Tams , 2012,?5ropean Jo5rnal o ;nternational La,


6/29

State against terrorists, t'e raid "ould !e go0erned !y t'e la" of non$

international armed conflict.8 3o"e0er, some of t'e States JSOC

operates in 'a0e not pu!lically declared consent, in0itation or

ac2uiescence to t'e US to carry out counterterror raids (t'oug' t'ere

may !e secret co$operation).A*'us, if acting on grounds of self$defence

"it'out consent, in0itation or ac2uiescence of t'e territorial State, la" of

international armed conflict applies to counterterror raids, if acting "it'

co$operation, t'e la" of non$international armed conflict apples.

3ot pursuit#, cannot legitimise cross$!order use of force, unless

commandos are acting in self$defence of an indi0idual. 3ot pursuit only

applies to maritime actions.4Commandos could only c'ase terrorists

cross$!order to use force against t'em, if acting in indi0idual self$

defence of t'emsel0es, or ot'ers.

Self!"efence

Legally resorting to force on t'e prete+t of self$defence, "it'out

territorial State co$operation must !e a legitimate act of self$defence,

meaningactions must !e necessary and proportionate to protect eit'er

t'e State or nationals. Erounds of self$defence to protect nationals

1!n. aboe, 14/6141

ln.1 aboe, 1!3A B. alsh, 'sama 4in Laden mission agreed in secret 56 years ago 4yU! and $a#istan The @5ardian, a= 201120n. aboe, -2A n.1 aboe, 21/621


7/29

against terrorists 'a0e !een used !y t'e US, Iran, 1t'iopia, Israel, and

*urkey.4In t'e case of terrorists "'o intend to continue terrorism, using

force to 'alt suc' actions is necessary if t'ere is no ot'er pre0entati0e

alternati0e, suc' as freeFing assets.44*o !e proportionate, actions need

not !e measured against t'e original attack (or fort'coming attack if

acting in anticipation) !ut, must !e of a means necessary to ac'ie0e an

end to danger.4


8/29


9/29


10/29

=irstly, raids must use legal means and met'ods of "arfare, and

a!ide !y t'e la"s and customs of "ar.


11/29

medical and religious personnel, IC7C and U staff, can lose t'eir

protected status in t'e same "ay as ci0ilians, if t'ey directly participate

in 'ostilities.


12/29

*o !e proportionate, t'ere must !e as little collateral damage# to

ci0ilians as possi!le. 3ig'er 0alue targets ustify larger degrees of

collateral, for e+ample decapitation strikes# targeting Saddam 3ussein

"ere legal, despite killing many ci0ilians.94Gue to differing 0alues of

indi0idual targets, raids cannot !e proportionate in general. *'us, t'e

proportionality of eac' counterterror raid must !e made on a case$!y$

case !asis "eig'ing military ad0antage "it' collateral.

If during a targeted killing raid, a target attempts to surrender or is

hors de combat, and killed any"ay, t'is "ould !e denial of 2uarter, a

serious 0iolation of t'e la"s and customs of "ar.9


13/29

Applicability of International $uman 'ights Law

Jurisdiction issues

Some argue t'at e+traterritorial counterterror raids are not armed

conflicts, and I3L "ould not apply, 'o"e0er I37L "ould apply, and

"'ere t'ere is armed conflict, "ould apply simultaneously.9@ I37L

applies e+traterritorially to State agents6 t'e State is responsi!le for

ensuring its representati0es a!ide !y it. lso, ICC-7 rig'ts and

customary rig'ts apply to e0ery!ody uni0ersally.987egional treaties also

apply e+traterritorially6 +calan,- and Ale.andre/0 state regional treaties

apply to parties e+traterritorially, o0erturning 1an2ovi3.> In relation to

counterterror raids, States can claim urisdiction on grounds of nationality

(as t'e commandos and indi0iduals !eing protected are nationals), and

under t'e protecti0e principle ("'ere t'ere are issues of State security).

*'oug' passi0e personality may 'a0e !een rele0ant to drone killings of

US citiFens, t'is is outside t'is essays remit.>4dditionally, international4-7. ahad, Targeting + detention ;"7" blo9, ! oe'ber 2011. &ailable at: Ehttp:FFintercrossblo9.icrc.or9Fblo9Ftar9etin96s6detention I (&ccessed on 24 &pril 2014)4!* 85'an 7i9hts "o''ittee, S5''ar= record o the 1202nd 'eetin9 (second part),"onsideration o reports s5b'itted b= States parties 5nder article 40 o the "oenant:"roatia, 59oslaia, * Boc ""+7F"FS7.1202F&dd.1, 1/ &pril 13, 23A /ase /oncerningMilitary and $aramilitary Acti+ities in and Against Nicarag%a, ;"J, 1!A L5belln. aboe,1, 231623/4Ncalan . T5r$e= (&pp. o. 4221F) 12 a= 200/, 1/0&leGandre . 7ep5blic o "5ba, 7eport %. !F, "ase 11./!, 2 Septe'ber 1/1)an#o+i> and ot"er + )elgi%m and ot"ers(&pp. o. /220-F) 12 Bece'ber 2001, !0/2

. 8astin9s, T"e &ise of t"e Killer Drones: =ow America 2oes to War in !ecret 7ollin9Stone, &pril 1 2012 E http:FF.rollin9stone.co'FpoliticsFnesFthe6rise6o6the6$iller6drones6ho6a'erica69oes6to6ar6in6secret62012041I (&ccessed on 23 &pril 2014)

13
http://intercrossblog.icrc.org/blog/targeting-vs-detentionhttp://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-rise-of-the-killer-drones-how-america-goes-to-war-in-secret-20120416http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-rise-of-the-killer-drones-how-america-goes-to-war-in-secret-20120416http://intercrossblog.icrc.org/blog/targeting-vs-detentionhttp://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-rise-of-the-killer-drones-how-america-goes-to-war-in-secret-20120416http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-rise-of-the-killer-drones-how-america-goes-to-war-in-secret-20120416


14/29

criminal urisdiction "ould !e rele0ant if commandos commit "ar

crimes.>9 *'erefore States 'a0e 'uman rig'ts o!ligations to"ard

indi0iduals "it'in its e+traterritorial urisdiction.>> *'us, indi0iduals

captured in counterterror raids, are o"ed 'uman rig'ts protections !y

t'e operating State. *'is applies "'et'er commando actions, and

detention are la"ful or not, as stated in Issa.>:In addition, t'e State is

responsi!le for any e+traterritorial 'uman rig'ts !reac'es.>@ 3o"e0er,

t'is does not include e0ery rig't. State agents acting e+traterritorially

"it' temporal urisdiction, need not ensure detainees could oin trade

unions, for e+ample. *'e rig'ts to !e protected are t'ose acutely

rele0ant to t'e precise circumstances of t'e indi0idual at t'at time, suc'

as rig't to li!erty and rig't to life, as stated in Ila4cu.>8It may !e enoug'

t'at States do not take acti0e steps to"ards !reac'ing rig'ts, as started

in t'e 'allcase relating to torture.>A*'us, as soon as indi0iduals are

captured in counterterror raids, t'ey are under t'e effecti0e control and

/3n. aboe, 20!620/4n.4 aboe, 1//n. aboe, 21!621/;ssa T5r$e= (&pp. o. 31!21F) 1 oe'ber 2004, -1/-Lo(e? +, Ur%g%ay, "o'' no /2F1-, * Boc ""+7F"F%+F1 (1!4), 12A /asariego +,

Ur%g%ay, "o'' no /F1-, * Boc ""+7F"F%+F1 (1!4), 10/!n. aboe, 22-6231A Ila@c% +, Moldo+a and &%ssia(&pp. o. 4!-!-F) ! J5l= 2004, 333/n.24 aboe, 112

14


15/29

t'erefore urisdiction of t'e operating State, "'ic' is o!ligated to protect

t'e 'uman rig'ts of said indi0idual rele0ant at t'at time.

se of lethal force under International $uman 'ights Law

*'e ICC-7, along "it' regional treaties in frica, 1urope, and t'e

mericas, and U special$rapporteurs protect t'e rig't to life.:

Situations of killing "'ic' do not 0iolate t'e rig't to life include5 la"ful

deat' penalty6 legal killings under I3L6 a necessary and proportionate

use of force, "'ere killing "as t'e last option. :ny use of force must !e

legal under national la", ot'er"ise t'is "ould !reac' of t'e rig't to life, :4

and an ar!itrary killing may !reac' .us cogens according to elFer.:

0n. aboe, 1-01n. aboe, 1-12n./ aboe, 22/3

n./ aboe, 224n./ aboe, !/6A Isaye+a + &%ssia(&pp. o. /-/0F33) 24 #ebr5ar= 200/, 1!0/n./ aboe, 232

1/


16/29

(eprivation of life shall not be regarded as inflicted in

contravention of this Article when it results from the use of force

which is no more than absolutely necessary5 a6 in defence of

any person from unlawful violence; 7b6 in order to effect a lawful

arrest or to prevent the escape of a person lawfully detained!#

*'us, let'al force is proportionate only "'ere strictly una0oida!le for

t'e protection of 'uman life from a real t'reat of unla"ful 0iolence. ::In

counterterrorism, t'e t'reat posed !y escape&non$arrest of targets

ustifies potentially let'al force due to t'e t'reat t'ey pose t'roug'

terrorism. *o !e proportionate, eac' operation must !e aimed at

pre0enting, or stopping a concrete terrorist attack, and could reasona!ly

e+pect to pre0ent or stop suc' an attack.:@ In a counterterror raid,

proportionate use of let'al force can only !e used to preser0e life, !y

pre0enting a concrete future terrorist attack, or protecting an indi0idual.

=or let'al force to !e necessary it must !e t'e only option left,

'a0ing e+'austed all non$let'al means, incapacitation or capture must

!e insufficient to pre0ent furt'er deat'.:8 *'ere must also !e precautions

taken to ensure let'al force is not used unless a!solutely necessary, as

s'ooters cannot !e a!sol0ed !y superior orders. *'erefore any

decisions to use let'al force must !e constantly re0ie"ed and

n./ aboe, 232A n. aboe, 1-3-Mc/ann + UK(&pp. o.1!!4F1) 2- Septe'ber 1/!n.0 aboe, 32A elern./ aboe, 22!

1


17/29

communicated to commandos. Commandos must "arn of intentions to

use let'al force, in a uniform, to allo" for surrender6 unless "arnings

"ould !e inappropriateH for e+ample confrontation "it' suicide

!om!ers.:A *'us, for let'al force in a C* raid to !e necessary, it must !e

t'e only option left to protect life, and constantly under re0ie".

"epri&ation of liberty under International $uman 'ights Law

In terms of capture operations, t'ose indi0iduals are depri0ed of

t'eir li!erty, "'et'er detained la"fully or unla"fully. *'oug' many are

legally depri0ed of t'e rig't to li!erty, for e+ample la"ful arrest, ar!itrary

detention is a !reac' of t'e ICC-7, frican, merican and 1uropean

treaties,@and customary international la".@*'us, all capture raids must

'a0e a la"ful reason to depri0e t'e target of t'eir li!erty to a0oid !eing

e+traterritorial e+traudicial a!ductions, and potentially ar!itrary detention

contra0ening t'e rig't to li!erty.@4

=or a depri0ation of li!erty to !e la"ful, it must !e in accordance "it'

domestic and international la". *'erefore, s'ould an arrest take place

n./ aboe, 23/623-0&rt. , ;nternational "onention on "iil and +olitical 7i9hts(;""+7)A &rt. -, &'erican"onention on 85'an 7i9hts(&"87)A &rt. , &rican "harter on 85'an and +olitical7i9hts(&"8+7)A &rt. /, ?5ropean "onention on 85'an 7i9hts(?"87)-1* 85'an 7i9hts "o''ittee, @eneral "o''ent 24 (/2), * Boc

""+7F"F21F7e.1F&dd. (14), !-27. 8i99ins, $ro4lems $rocess: International Law and =ow We Use it(%ord: %*+,14) -0

1-


18/29

!reac'ing I3L or I37L, t'e depri0ation of li!erty "ould !e unla"ful. @*o !e legal domestically, it must at minimum

a0oid5 disproportionate use of force6 ill$treatment6 denial of habeas

corpusrig'ts6 ina!ility to appeal court decisions, potential illegality "ould

!e e0aluated on a case$!y$case !asis.@:S'ould detentions !e secret,

t'ey run t'e risk of !eing 2ualified as a disappearance, "'ic' are

pro'i!ited.@@Some raids carried out !y JSOC 'a0e !een performed

"it'out territorial State kno"ledge, t'us t'e territorial infringement and

t'erefore detention may !e illegal,@8along "it' illegal disappearances,

and interrogations including torture, 'o"e0er t'is essay is focused on

t'e raids t'emsel0es.@A

"erogations of rights

-3n. aboe, 1!4-4Bo'5$os$= and others . @eor9ia, "o'' no 2F1/""+7F"F2FBF(1/)-/n. aboe, 1!/-n. aboe, 1!/61!--&rt.1 and &rt.2, ;nternational "onention or the +rotection o &ll +ersons ro' ?norced

Bisappearance-!n.1 aboe, 23--n.1 aboe 14-611

1!


19/29

*'oug' t'e rig't to life cannot !e derogated from, t'e rig't to

li!erty can !e.8

Capture in !reac' of t'e rig't to li!erty could still !e

legal if t'e acting State la"fully derogates from rig't to li!erty.

Gerogations are particularly rele0ant "'en a ci0ilian is captured !ecause

t'ey 'a0e information on targets, or "'ose freedom is used as le0erage

during anot'er detainee#s interrogation.8*o !e la"ful under t'e ICC-7,

and 1uropean and merican con0entions, derogations must !e5 allo"ed

under t'e rele0ant c'arter6 in t'e presence of a serious pu!lic

emergency6 strictly re8uired by the exigencies of the situation9;84and t'e

State must fulfil procedural re2uirements to notify of derogations.844@&AA) 4Gecem!er 4

Ila4cu v! "oldova and )ussia(pp. o. 98@8@&AA) 8 July 49

Isayeva v )ussia(pp. o. >@A>&


27/29

Inter$merican Court of 3uman 7ig'ts

leandre 0. 7epu!lic of Cu!a, 7eport O. 8:&AA, Case .>8A, 4A

Septem!er AAA

Ot'er courts

Israel 3ig' Court of Justice, *'e $ublic *ommittee against :orture in

Israel v Israel, 3CJ @:A&4, Gecem!er 4>

* $uman 'ights Committee

*asariego v! %ruguay, Comm no >:&A@A, U Goc CC-7&C&O-&(A89)

Gomuko0sky and ot'ers 0. Eeorgia, Comm no :4:&AA> CC-7&C&:4&G&(AA>)

Eeneral Comment 49 (>4), U Goc CC-7&C&4&7e0.&dd.: (AA9)

Eeneral Comment 4A, States of 1mergency (rticle 9) U GocCC-7&C&4&7e0.&dd. (4)

Lope= v! %ruguay, Comm no >4&A@A, U Goc CC-7&C&O-& (A89)

Summary record of t'e 44nd meeting (second part), Consideration ofreports su!mitted !y States parties under article 9 of t'e Co0enant5

Croatia, /ugosla0ia#, U Goc CC-7&C&S7.44&dd. (AAoverns Armed *onflict? :he )elationship

2-


28/29

1etween International Humanitarian Law and International Human)ights Law# innesota La" 7e0ie", 44, Dol. A:(:), 88


29/29

/ebsites

G. kande, Are xtraterritorial Armed *onflicts with &onCState >roupsInternational or &onCInternational? 8 Octo!er 4, 1JIL Blog,

M'ttp5&&""".eiltalk.org&are$e+traterritorial$armed$conflicts$"it'$non$state$groups$international$or$non$international&N (ccessed on 44 pril 49)

. 3astings, :he )ise of the oes to 'arin Secret # 7olling Stone, pril : 44 M'ttp5&&""".rollingstone.com&politics&ne"s&t'e$rise$of$t'e$killer$drones$'o"$america$goes$to$"ar$in$secret$449:N (ccessed on 4< pril49)

7. a'ad, :argeting v detention# IC7C !log, 8 o0em!er 4.

0aila!le at5 M 'ttp5&&intercross!log.icrc.org&!log&targeting$0s$detentionN(ccessed on 49 pril 49)

-. Sands %C, 2uoted !y . Le"is, sama 1in Laden5 Legality of 2illing8uestions# BBC, 4 ay 4 M'ttp5&&""".!!c.co.uk&ne"s&"orld$sout'$asia$

Date post:	02-Jun-2018
Category:	Documents
Upload:	dorupara718747
View:	214 times
Download:	0 times

Legality of Counterterrorism Raids by Special Forces in International Law With Reference to Actions...

Documents