International Studies Journal (ISJ)

International Studies Journal (ISJ)

Challenges in the Classification of Armed Conflicts in Light of Proxy and Multi-Layered Wars in International Humanitarian Law

Document Type : Original Independent Original Article

Authors
Bahador Falah 1
Mohsen Mohebi 2
1 Master’s Student, Department of International Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor, Department of International Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/isj.2026.583406.2464
Abstract
The classification of armed conflicts constitutes a necessary preliminary step for the application of international humanitarian law and for determining the rules applicable to situations of war. Traditionally, this legal framework has been based on the distinction between international and non-international armed conflicts. However, the expansion of proxy wars, indirect State intervention, the involvement of non-State armed groups, hybrid warfare, and multi-layered conflicts has blurred the boundaries between these two categories. The main question addressed in this article is what challenges proxy wars and multi-layered conflicts pose to the classification of armed conflicts under international humanitarian law. Using a descriptive-analytical method and relying on international instruments, judicial practice, specialized reports, and legal doctrine, the article demonstrates that traditional criteria, particularly the tests of effective control and overall control, remain the starting point of analysis, but are not, by themselves, sufficient in multi-actor and proxy contexts. The findings indicate that the main challenge does not lie in the complete absence of legal rules, but rather in the difficulty of applying existing criteria to situations in which the visible actor, the effective actor, and the supporting State do not coincide. In such circumstances, a relationship-based analysis and the separate assessment of each hostile relationship are essential for accurately determining the applicable legal regime.
Keywords
Armed Conflict
Proxy War
Multi-Layered Conflict
International Humanitarian Law
Subjects
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