Rules of engagement

Rules of engagement are directives defining when and how military forces may use force. They set operational limits without replacing the law governing armed conflict.

Use of force: The application of physical power to compel, injure, or destroy. Rules of engagement specify when military force may be applied.
International humanitarian law: The body of law regulating conduct during armed conflict and protecting people affected by it. Rules of engagement operate within, and cannot displace, its legal limits.
Targeted killing: The deliberate use of lethal force against a specific person outside a conventional battlefield or during armed conflict. Engagement directives can govern authorization and constraints for such operations.
Vietnam War: A conflict fought from the 1950s to 1975 involving North Vietnam, South Vietnam, and their allies. The war brought public attention to restrictive directives and operational limits on force.
Civilian casualties: Deaths and injuries among civilians caused by violence, including military operations. Engagement decisions directly affect the risk of civilian harm.
Positive identification: A reasonable certainty that a person or object is a legitimate military target. Target identification can be a required condition before engagement.
Law of armed conflict: The rules of international law governing the conduct of parties during armed conflict. Military directives translate its requirements into operational instructions.
Close air support: Air action against hostile targets near friendly forces that requires detailed coordination with them. Proximity to friendly troops makes engagement authority and safeguards especially consequential.
United States Marine Corps: A branch of the United States armed forces specializing in expeditionary operations. Marine operations and doctrine helped make engagement rules a prominent military subject.
Friendly fire: The accidental injury or killing of one's own or allied forces by their side's weapons. Identification and authorization procedures can reduce mistaken engagements.

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