International Law Discussion Group: Operation Epic Fury and its implications for international law

The recent escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, referred to as Operation Epic Fury, raises complex and rapidly evolving questions under international law. This ILDG session aims to provide a space to critically engage with these developments and their broader legal implications.

The discussion will be structured around a number of possible themes, including:

• The legality of the initial attacks against Iran and attacks against Lebanon and subsequent Iranian attacks against military bases in Arab states, under the prohibition of the use of force, including questions of self-defence;
• The assassination/targeting of Ayatollah Khomeini and other Iranian leaders;
• Ius in bello considerations, including issues relating to means and methods of warfare, protection of civilians, and emerging concerns such as AI-assisted target selection (e.g. targeting of schools or civilian infrastructure such as data centres);
• The laying of mines and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, including implications under the law of the sea, naval warfare, blockades, and the right of transit passage;

• Further issues may arise given the rapidly evolving nature of the situation and may also be discussed.

  
   

The session is open to all colleagues interested in discussing and critically engaging with the legal implications of Operation Epic Fury and its broader consequences for international law.

For background, participants are encouraged to consult the Just Security collection: Iran, Israel and the United States at War (2025–2026 Operations): https://www.justsecurity.org/114556/collection-israel-iran-conflict/

In particular:

• Yuval Shany and Amichai Cohen, “The International Community at a Crossroads Over Iran: The Reawakening of ‘Illegal but Legitimate’ or the ‘Law of Self-Preservation’?”
  https://www.justsecurity.org/133292/international-law-crossroads/

   

• Tom Dannenbaum and Rebecca Hamilton, “Aggression, Plain and Simple: A Response to Shany and Cohen on the Attack on Iran”
  https://www.justsecurity.org/133417/aggression-iran-response-shany-cohen/
• Marko Milanovic and Michael Schmitt, “Was Targeting Ayatollah Khamenei and Other Iranian Leaders Lawful? What Precedents Does It Set?”
  https://www.justsecurity.org/133171/ayatollah-khamenei-leadership-strike-law/
• Adil Ahmad Haque, “Aggression by the United States and Israel, Misdirected Self-Defense by Iran, and Collective Self-Defense of Gulf States”
  https://www.justsecurity.org/132894/us-israel-iran-war-legal-options/
• Michael Schmitt and Elizabeth Hutton, “Sinking Iran’s Frigate IRIS Dena and the Law of Naval Warfare”
  https://www.justsecurity.org/133397/sinking-the-irans-frigate-iris-dena-and-the-law-of-naval-warfare/
• Alexander Lott, “The Legality of Iran’s Closure of the Strait of Hormuz”
  https://www.ejiltalk.org/the-legality-of-irans-closure-of-the-strait-of-hormuz/
• Mark Nevitt, Legal and Operational Issues in the Strait of Hormuz: Transit Passage Under Fire (March 15, 2026)
• Marko Milanovic, “The Legality of the UK Interception of Iranian Missiles and Permitting a Limited US Use of British Bases”
  https://www.ejiltalk.org/the-legality-of-the-uk-interception-of-iranian-missiles-and-permitting-a-limited-us-use-of-british-bases/ 
• Klaudia Klonowska and Michael Schmitt, “Iranian Attacks on the Amazon Data Centers: A Legal Analysis” (12 March 2026)
  https://www.justsecurity.org/133996/legal-operational-strait-hormuz-transit-passage/
• Sofia Southey, Condemning the Counterstrike Without the Cause: The Security Council’s 12 March Resolution and the Incoherence of Partial Ius Ad Bellum Adjudication (17 March 2026)

The International Law Discussion Group (ILDG) aims to offer a regular space for staff—both within and beyond the Maastricht Centre for Human Rights—to discuss topical issues in international law, including human rights, and to exchange ideas that may inspire new initiatives, events, and research collaborations.