unlawful combatant

Unlawful combatants are civilians who directly engage in armed conflict and are therefore legally deemed to be no longer protected by the Geneva Conventions. The concept originated during the fin de siècle of the 19th century, with the great powers considering francs-tireurs to be unlawful combatants. During the 20th and 21st centuries, the concept of unlawful combatants has been prominently used by the United States, particularly during the war on terror; it has also seen use by the Israeli and