The main theme of this volume of theYearbook of International Humanitarian Lawis the development and interpretation of international humanitarian law (IHL). It iselaborated upon in several chapters that examine the role of non-state armed groupsin the development and interpretation of IHL, the impact of international criminal lawon the development of IHL, the notion of external non-international armed conflicts,and the regulation of prolonged occupation under international law. 
The second theme of this volume is dedicated to targeting in armed conflicts. Specifictopics include precautions in attack in urban and siege warfare, the targeting of theIslamic States religious personnel in Iraq and Syria, and the targeting of illicit cropsthrough aerial spraying in Colombia. Besides the chapters that address both themes,this volume also contains aYear in Review describing the most important events andlegal developments that took place in 2017. 
TheYearbook of International Humanitarian Law is the worlds only annual publicationdevoted to the study of the laws governing armed conflict. It provides a truly internationalforum for high-quality, peer-reviewed academic articles focusing on this crucialbranch of international law. Distinguished by contemporary relevance, theYearbookof International Humanitarian Law bridges the gap between theory and practice andserves as a useful reference tool for scholars, practitioners, military personnel, civilservants, diplomats, human rights workers and students. 

 

Part I. The Development and Interpretation of International Humanitarian Law.- Chapter 1. The Role of Non-State Armed Groups in the Development and Interpretation of International Humanitarian Law.- Chapter 2. A Fine Line Between Humanisation and Protection: The Interplay Between the Scope of Application of International Humanitarian Law and Jurisdiction over Alleged War Crimes under International Criminal Law.- Chapter 3. The Notion of External NIACs: Reconsidering the Intensity Threshold in Light of Contemporary Armed Conflicts.- Chapter 4. Towards a Counter-Hegemonic Law of Occupation: On the Regulation of Predatory Interstate Acts in Contemporary International Law.- Part II. Targeting in Armed Conflicts.- Chapter 5. Precautions in Attack and Urban and Siege Warfare.- Chapter 6.Targeting the Islamic States Religious Personnel under International Humanitarian Law.- Chapter 7. Are the Targets of Aerial Spraying Operations in Colombia Lawful under International HumanitarianLaw?.- Part III. Other Articles.- Chapter 8. Year in Review 2017.- Table of Cases.- Index.