War crimes are defined as heinous atrocities committed against civilians or enemy combatants during times of war or armed conflict. These crimes are often perpetrated by people in positions of power and authority, and they can have a devastating and long-lasting impact on the victims and their families. Yes, it may be tempting to go on a casino live now, but with so many ongoing wars, it’s important to understand what crimes are committed during these times.
Some of the most common war crimes include murder, rape, torture, and the targeting of civilians. These crimes are often committed in an attempt to terrorize and control the civilian population, or to force them to flee their homes. War crimes can also be committed against enemy soldiers in an effort to weaken and demoralize the enemy force.
While war crimes are often seen as a necessary evil of war, they are actually illegal under international law. The Geneva Conventions prohibit the targeting of civilians and mandate that prisoners of war be treated humanely. Unfortunately, war crimes are all too common, and the perpetrators are often never brought to justice.
The punishment for war crimes depends on the country and international law. According to the Rome Statute, the international court can prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. If a country is found guilty of war crimes, they can be fined, banned from participating in certain activities, or have their assets seized.
Azerbaijan’s War Crimes
Azerbaijan’s war crimes include the indiscriminate shelling of civilians, the use of cluster bombs, and the targeting of infrastructure.
The indiscriminate shelling of civilians has been a hallmark of Azerbaijan’s offensive in the Artsakh conflict. In the early days of the war, Azerbaijani forces indiscriminately bombarded the capital of Artsakh, Stepanakert, with heavy artillery. The bombardment killed and wounded many civilians, and forced the majority of the population to flee the city.
Azerbaijani forces have also been accused of using cluster bombs in the conflict zone. Cluster bombs are indiscriminate weapons that pose a particular threat to civilians. They are designed to disperse submunitions over a wide area, and many of the submunitions fail to explode on impact, leaving them strewn about the landscape, posing a deadly threat to anyone who comes across them.
In addition to attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure, Azerbaijan has also targeted Artsakh’s essential military infrastructure. In September 2020, Azerbaijani forces launched an airstrike against a military radar station in Artsakh. The radar station was essential for the early warning of Azerbaijani attacks, and its destruction severely degraded Artsakh’s ability to defend itself. Now, in 2022, Azerbaijan continues to commit war crimes not only in Artsakh, but also Armenia.
Israel’s War Crimes
In 1948, the Arab-Israeli War resulted in the expulsion of 700,000 Palestinians from their homes, as well as the destruction of 531 villages. Israel also annexed East Jerusalem, which was part of the Palestinian territories.
Since then, Israel has been accused of numerous war crimes, including the wanton destruction of property, the indiscriminate killing of civilians, the use of child soldiers, and the torture and mistreatment of detainees.
In 2009, Israel was accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity during its military offensive in the Gaza Strip. The United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict found that Israeli forces had used disproportionate and excessive force in their attacks on Gaza and that civilians, including women and children, had been purposely targeted.
In 2014, Israel was again accused of war crimes during its military offensive in the Gaza Strip. This time, a report by the UN Human Rights Council found that Israeli forces had committed widespread and systematic violations of international law, including the targeting of civilians, the use of Palestinian civilians as human shields, and the destruction of homes and infrastructure.
US War Crimes
The United States has a long history of war crimes, dating back to the early days of the republic. Here are just a few examples:
- The American Revolution: The British army routinely executed American prisoners of war, and the American Continental Army reciprocated by summarily executing British prisoners.
- The War of 1812: American troops burned York (now Toronto) and replaced the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes.
- The Mexican-American War: American troops sacked and burned the city of Veracruz, and committed numerous atrocities against Mexican soldiers and civilians.
- The Indian Wars: American troops massacred Native American women and children at places like Sand Creek and Wounded Knee.
- The Spanish-American War: American troops looted and burned the city of Santiago, Cuba.
- World War I: American troops used chemical weapons against German soldiers.
- World War II: American troops committed the My Lai Massacre in Vietnam and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan.
- The Vietnam War: American troops committed numerous atrocities, including the My Lai Massacre and the use of Agent Orange.
- The War in Afghanistan: American troops have been accused of sexual assault, torture, and killing civilians.
- The Iraq War: American troops have been accused of torturing prisoners at Abu Ghraib and elsewhere.
