Conclusions

This study has sought to contribute to the communication between the academic analysis of the legal aspects of the use of force and the realm of pragmatic application of the rules on the use of force during the conduct of military operations, presenting the case for the need, indeed necessity, for both these realms to remain connected. This chapter presents a conceptual model of rules of engagement (ROE) on the basis of the constituent chapters of the book, drawing on the introductory discussion of the classic ROE model in Chapter 1. It re-examines the influence of political, operational, and legal considerations on ROE and describes the overall function of ROE in terms of applicable law and in the context of the international law of military operations. Drawing on the underlying conclusions from this study, the main questions discussed in the Introduction will be addressed in order to answer the central question: what is the function of ROE and derivative (or similar) rules on the use of force in the context of the legal framework governing the use of force during military operations.