Distinction (law)
Distinction (the principle of distinction) is a principle under international humanitarian law governing the legal use of force in an armed conflict, whereby belligerents are required to distinguish between combatants and non-combatants (protected civilians): parties to a conflict must “direct their operations only against military objectives.” Combatant in this instance means persons entitled to directly participate in hostilities and thus are not afforded immunity from being directly targeted in situations of armed conflict. Protected civilian in this instance means civilians who are enemy nationals or neutral citizens outside of the territory of a belligerent power.