Legal Definitions - hors de combat

Definition: "Hors de combat" is a term used in international humanitarian law (IHL) which describes a soldier who cannot fight due to being sick, wounded, captured or incapacitated. These soldiers are not allowed to be attacked or harmed because they pose no threat. The rules of IHL state that these individuals are to be treated humanely and protected from harm.

Examples:

• A soldier who has been shot and is lying on the ground unable to move is considered hors de combat.
• A soldier who has been captured and is being held as a prisoner of war is also considered hors de combat.

These examples illustrate the definition of hors de combat because in both cases, the soldiers are unable to fight and therefore pose no threat. According to IHL, they must be treated humanely and protected from harm.