Legal Framework

Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court — Article 8bis

Defines the crime of aggression as the use of armed force by a state against another state's sovereignty, territorial integrity, or political independence in manifest violation of the UN Charter, when planned or executed by persons in leadership positions.

Related incidents

4 incidents

Trump Threats to Obliterate Iran's Civilian Power Infrastructure

Trump's explicit threat to destroy Iran's civilian power infrastructure constitutes a per se violation of international humanitarian law. The threats escalated from 'obliterate' to a promise of …

  • Trump explicitly threatened to 'obliterate' Iran's power plants, which Amnesty International assessed as a 'threat to commit war crimes' -- …
  • As of March 21, 2026, the Iran war has killed at least 5,900 people including 595 documented civilians, according to the Hengaw …

First-Ever US Airstrikes in Nigeria: Christmas Day Tomahawk Strikes on Sokoto

The US unilaterally struck a sovereign African nation for the first time, firing Tomahawk cruise missiles at Sokoto State. Locals disputed the ISIS narrative, unexploded ordnance fell in villages, and …

  • The US fired over a dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles from the USS Paul Ignatius in the Gulf of Guinea, striking at least 16 targets in Sokoto …
  • At least four missile warheads failed to explode and fell short of targets, landing in the villages of Offa, Zugurma, and Jabo, creating an …

Operation Absolute Resolve: Unilateral US Military Intervention in Venezuela

The United States launched a unilateral military intervention in Venezuela, bombing infrastructure and capturing the sitting head of state, without Congressional authorization, UN Security Council …

  • The US launched Operation Absolute Resolve on January 3, 2026, bombing Venezuelan infrastructure and capturing President Nicolas Maduro …
  • The operation included bombing to suppress air defenses across northern Venezuela followed by a special operations raid on Maduro's compound …

Military and Economic Threats Against Greenland and Panama Canal Sovereignty

The administration threatened military and economic coercion to annex Greenland and reclaim the Panama Canal, with the Pentagon developing actual invasion plans, before partially walking back the …

  • Trump refused to rule out military or economic force to annex Greenland and threatened a 25% tariff on EU goods unless Denmark ceded the …
  • The Pentagon developed military options for the Panama Canal ranging from closer cooperation to outright invasion, per NBC News reporting.