What are two fundamental LOAC principles and how do they apply in combat situations?

• A. Distinction and Proportionality; They guide actions to minimize civilian harm and avoid excessive force.
• B. Necessity and Uniformity; They require consistent actions across units.
• C. Proportionality and Military Necessity; They justify any action.
• D. Distinction and Perfidiousness; They allow deception against civilians.

Answer: (A)

Two principles guide how fighting happens under LOAC: Distinction and Proportionality. Distinction requires that forces distinguish between military targets and civilians or civilian objects, so attacks are directed only at legitimate military objectives. In practice this means using good information, precision, and precautions to avoid hitting civilians or civilian infrastructure, and you should not target noncombatants even if nearby military forces are present.

Proportionality means that the force used must not be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military objective you seek. Even a legitimate target cannot be attacked if the civilian harm expected from the attack would be disproportionate to the military gain. This leads to weighing options, choosing less harmful means when possible, and potentially delaying or altering an operation to minimize civilian casualties.

The other options mix concepts that aren’t the standard pair used to describe LOAC’s protective framework. Perfidiousness is a prohibited act, not a principle to guide legitimate force, and Uniformity isn’t a core LOAC principle, while Military Necessity is a concept bounded by proportionality and distinction. Distinction and Proportionality best capture how civilian protection and restraint on force are applied in combat.