Belligerent facts for kids
A belligerent is a person, group, or country that is actively involved in a fight or a war. The word comes from Latin words meaning "to wage war." When we talk about a country being belligerent, it just means they are part of a conflict. It doesn't necessarily mean they started the fight or are the "aggressor."
During a war, countries that are fighting are called belligerents. Other countries that are not involved in the fighting are called neutral countries. Even neutral countries and belligerents still have to follow certain rules, known as the laws of war.
What is Belligerency?
"Belligerency" is a term used in international law. It describes the official status of two or more groups, usually countries, that are in a state of war. When countries go to war, they often say they are fighting to protect themselves. This is allowed under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. For example, the United Kingdom used this reason before the Falklands War in 1982. Sometimes, the United Nations Security Council might even give permission for a war, like with United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 for the Gulf War.
A state of belligerency can also exist between a country and a rebel group, but only if the rebel group is officially recognized as a belligerent. If a rebel group is not recognized, their fight against the government is usually called an insurgency. Once groups are officially recognized as belligerents, their actions during the conflict must follow the specific rules of the laws of war.
See also
- Combatant status
- Co-belligerence
- War of aggression
