US Defense Secretary Faces Criticism for “No Quarter” Remarks
The legal interpretation of his statement implies that surrendered Iranian soldiers would be executed rather than taken prisoner. US officials and legal experts have argued that Hegseth’s comments may constitute encouragement of war crimes.
”We will keep pressing. We will keep pushing, keep advancing. No quarter, no mercy for our enemies,” Hegseth said during a press briefing on Iran on Friday.
Some US lawmakers and legal scholars contend that his remarks go beyond strong rhetoric and could cross into criminality. Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona criticized Hegseth, saying the comment “isn’t some wannabe tough guy line” but rather an illegal order that endangers US service members and reflects that “there was never a clear strategy for this war,” as stated by reports.
A retired US Army judge advocate suggested a hypothetical memo the Pentagon legal counsel might issue, warning Hegseth of criminal liability for himself and any subordinates who followed a directive to deny quarter, according to reports.
International law, including the Hague and Geneva Conventions, forbids harming enemy combatants who are unable to defend themselves or who have surrendered and explicitly prohibits declaring that “no quarter will be given.” These protections are also codified in US law; the 1996 War Crimes Act references the prohibition on “no quarter” in its definition of war crimes.
US military rules against taking no prisoners date back to 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln issued the Lieber Code during the Civil War, as stated by reports.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
