A Legal Analysis of the Humanitarian Consequences of the Use of Lethal Autonomous Weapons in the Lebanon War: A Case Study of the Pager Attacks

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Law, Faculty of Social Sciences and Economics, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran

3 University lecturer and researcher in international law, Tehran, Iran,

Abstract

In recent years, autonomous weapons systems, especially military drones, have played an increasing role in armed conflicts. This article, using a descriptive and analytical approach, seeks to address the following questions: How can attacks carried out by autonomous weapons in general—and loitering munitions (LMs) in Lebanon in particular—be legally analyzed in light of potential violations of the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution? What capacities does international criminal law offer for ensuring accountability in cases involving the unlawful use of autonomous weapons? The case study of Lebanon demonstrates that in certain instances, the use of drones has been accompanied by violations of the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution, thereby paving the way for the commission of war crimes. The absence of real-time human oversight and the difficulty in identifying direct responsibility pose fundamental challenges to legal accountability.

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Criminal Law Research

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 08 February 2026

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