Chapter 14 describes lawful human targets, the first being enemy combatants. Their required characteristics, activities, and locations are covered, followed by exceptions to their lawful targeting: prisoners, those showing intent to surrender, and those incapacitated by wounds. Wrongful use of force investigations are detailed, to impress the fact that violations of an exempt targeting status have consequences within our own armed forces. What legal standard is applied to the shooter when investigating possible unlawful use of force? Lawful civilian targets are considered, as well: when one is targeted he may return fire on civilians in self-defense; and when civilians are directly participating in hostilities (DPH), as is often the case in recent conflicts. Significant space is devoted to explaining what constitutes DPH, as well as to continuous combat function, the higher form of DPH. Targeting of heads of state (e.g., Saddam Hussein, Adolf Hitler, the US president) is covered. Then, is there a duty to capture, rather than wound? To wound, rather than kill? Finally, the politically fraught killings of Iranian General Suliemoni and Anwar al-Aulaqi are examined for LOAC compliance.

This chapter presents the rule of distinction as a limitation upon military necessity. Hereunder as an, in principle, absolute prohibition, yet there is no absolute protection of civilians.