Surrender
In a military context the term surrender is used when a party indicates they are not going to engage in hostile acts and wants to be taken prisoner.
Under centuries of precedent, the Hague convention, the Geneva conventions, and other international agreements that are considered to form the laws of war require belligerents to accept the surrender of their opponents, in order to prevent unnecessary loss of life.
Occasionally hot headed leaders order their fighters to "accept no quarter" -- ie not recognize attempts to surrender from their opponents.[1] This is widely regarded as a war crime, in and of itself.[2][3][4]
The most recent example was a speech by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, on March 13, 2026.[2][3][4]
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑
"War Crimes in Iran". Legal Eagle via YouTube. 2026-03-15. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
Did the Trump Administration commit War Crimes in Iran?
- ↑ 2.0 2.1
Daniel Maurer (2026-03-14). "Hypothetical Legal Advice to SecDef Hegseth on "No Quarter" Statement (from Office of General Counsel)". Just Security. Archived from the original on 2026-03-14. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
The following hypothetical legal memorandum imagines what the General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Defense would advise the Secretary of Defense immediately following the SecDef’s remarks on March 13, 2026, in which he appeared to suggest that U.S. forces would deny 'quarter' to Iranian combatants during Operation Epic Fury. The memorandum presumes that Secretary Hegseth did not know what 'no quarter' means under international humanitarian law or knew its legal meaning but intended only to panic and terrify Iranian combatants or knew its legal meaning and intended for 'no quarter' to be executed by his subordinates. The memorandum is agnostic as to those conditions; its analysis applies regardless.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1
Brian Osgood (2026-03-14). "Analysts say US threat of 'no quarter' for Iran violates international law". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 2026-03-14. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
Under the Hague Convention and other international treaties, it is illegal to threaten that no quarter will be given. Domestic laws, such as the 1996 War Crimes Act, also prohibit such policies. US military manuals likewise warn that threats of 'no quarter' are illegal. Brian Finucane, a senior adviser at the International Crisis Group, a think tank, said Hegseth’s comments appear to run afoul of those standards.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1
Greg Jaffe (2026-03-13). "Hegseth Vows Lethal Day in Iran as Air War Intensifies". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2026-03-13. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
Mr. Hegseth vowed that U.S. forces would allow 'no quarter, no mercy for our enemies.' To give 'no quarter' means to continue to attack an enemy who is wounded and out of the fight, a violation of international law.