Międzynarodowe prawo humanitarne wobec zastosowania broni zapalającej w konflikcie zbrojnym
The use of the incendiary weapons in the light of the international humanitarian law

Summary/Abstract: The incendiary weapons are one of the most effective tools of the modern combat. Their extensive use is dated at least two thousand years ago when the ‚Greek fire’ was concerning a decisive weapon of antiquity. From the humanitarian viewpoint, the deployment of the flammable armament created a grave medical and legal concern. The devastating power of the incendiary aerial bombs during the World War Two appealed for the urged response. However, during the decades, the states were highly reluctant to welcome new restriction, limiting their choice of combat. In this difficult political and technical landscape, the international humanitarian law (IHL) is required to constantly adopt both the military and humanitarian perspective. Contemporary challenges arise both from unsettled state practice on the battlefield and the constant progress in weapons development that simply outruns the existing framework of the international humanitarian law. The aim of this article is to examine relevant laws and customs of war addressing the issue of incendiary weapons.

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