JEAIL > Volume 19(1); 2026 > Notes & Comments
Research Paper
Published online: May 30, 2026
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14330/jeail.2026.19.1.04

Contemporary Missile Warfare and the Use of Force: A Legal Evaluation of the Iran-Israel Escalation

Nehaluddin Ahmad & Faizan Mustafa & Faizah Rahim
University Islam Sultan Sharif Ali
Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Faculty of Law, Simpang 347, Jalan Pasar Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
Corresponding Author: ahmadnehal@yahoo.com

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Abstract
The escalation of missile warfare between Iran and Israel has intensified legal debates concerning the regulation of armed conflict under international law. This article examines these challenges through the Iran–Israel confrontation, with a particular focus on the large-scale missile exchanges in June 2025 and the renewed escalation in February 2026. The study demonstrates how contemporary warfare methods, including ballistic and cruise missiles, armed drones, and cyber operations, strain existing legal frameworks. It evaluates the legality of these developments under the United Nations Charter, particularly the prohibition on the use of force under Article 2(4) and the right of self-defense under Article 51, alongside the application of international humanitarian law principles of distinction, proportionality, and precautions in attack. By analyzing these developments, the article identifies doctrinal and operational gaps in current legal regimes and argues for adaptive legal mechanisms to address the challenges of modern missile warfare.

Keywords : Missile Warfare, Iran-Israel Conflict, Use of Force, Self-Defense, Article 51 UN Charter, International Humanitarian Law, Armed Conflict

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