Grade 5 of 5: International Crime (Rome Statute)
Defense Secretary Hegseth Declares 'No Quarter, No Mercy' for Iran
The US Defense Secretary's public declaration of 'no quarter, no mercy for our enemies' is assessed as a probable war crime under Rome Statute Article 8(2)(b)(xii), which criminalizes 'declaring that no quarter will be given.' Recognized authorities have applied the law to the statement; no court has ruled. This prohibition is among the oldest in the laws of war.