Legal scholars cited by Al Jazeera say such language is prohibited under international humanitarian law
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth holds a briefing amid the US-Israeli attack on Iran at the Pentagon in Washington, DC on March 2, 2026. PHOTO: REUTERS
Legal experts and analysts say a United States threat to give “no quarter” to Iran during the ongoing conflict may violate international law, according to a report by Al Jazeera.
The warning was issued by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during the escalating war waged by the US and Israel on Iran. Analysts told Al Jazeera that such language has a specific meaning in the laws of armed conflict, referring to a declaration that no enemy fighters will be spared.
Under international humanitarian law, including provisions in the Hague Conventions, threatening that “no quarter” will be given is prohibited. Legal scholars cited by Al Jazeera say the ban exists because it implies combatants will be killed even if they surrender or are otherwise hors de combat (out of combat).
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Brian Finucane, a senior adviser at the International Crisis Group, said the prohibition on declaring “no quarter” is widely recognised in the laws of war. Military manuals used by several countries, including the United States, also warn that issuing such threats is illegal.
Experts told Al Jazeera that while political rhetoric during wartime can be ambiguous, a clear declaration that no quarter will be given could amount to a violation of international humanitarian law and potentially constitute a war crime if implemented on the battlefield.
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The comments come as fighting between Iran and its adversaries continues to intensify across the region, with missile attacks, air strikes and threats against strategic infrastructure reported in recent days.
