text: Chapter 1
  the principle of distinction, LOAC recognizes that the population of a State that is a party to a conflict is
  generally divided into two classes—combatants and civilians, which correspond generally to the armed forces
  and the civilian population. Both classes have distinct rights, duties, and liabilities. No person can exercise
  the distinct rights afforded both classes at the same time. For example, a person cannot exercise the
  combatant’s right to attack enemy forces while also claiming the civilian’s right not to be made the object of
  attack.
  1-50. Thus, in order to help protect the civilian population from the effects of armed conflict, LOAC
  distinguishes between combatants and civilians, as well as persons directly participating in hostilities and
  persons taking no part in hostilities. The line between these classes is not always clear, and certain categories
  of persons are not easily characterized as falling within one of these categories. Nonetheless, the principle of
  distinction continues to be of the utmost importance in LOAC and underlies many of the rules discussed in
  this section. This section discusses the identification as well as the rights, duties, and liabilities of various
  classes of people under LOAC—primarily combatants and civilians, but also certain subcomponents within
  each of these classes that are subject to rules different from the general treatment of each primary class, such
  as certain humanitarian personnel, certain civilian supporters of the armed forces, two categories of
  “unlawful” or “unprivileged” belligerents, and military attachés and diplomatic representatives of neutral
  States.
  LAWFUL COMBATANTS
  1-51. Three classes of persons qualify as lawful combatants, often referred to as privileged combatants:
  * Members of the armed forces of a State party to a conflict, including members of the regular armed
  forces of a de facto government or authority not formally recognized by the opposing power, aside
  from certain categories of medical and religious personnel (GPW art. 4A(1) and 4A(3));
  * Members of militia or volunteer corps that are not part of the armed forces of a State but belong
  to a State party to the conflict, and that meet the following four requirements: commanded by a
  person responsible for his subordinates; having a fixed distinctive sign recognizable at a distance;
  carrying their arms openly; and conducting their operations in accordance with LOAC
  (GPW 4A(2)); and
  * Inhabitants of an area who participate in a kind of popular uprising to defend against foreign
  invaders, known as a levée en masse (GPW 4A(6)).
  The United States does not accept the Additional Protocol I definition of lawful combatants. A principle U.S.
  objection to the Additional Protocol I definition is the extent to which it would grant combatant status to
  individuals who fail to comply with the requirements of GPW for status as a member of a militia or volunteer
  corps that belong to a State (GPW art. 4A(2)) and thereby undermine the protection of the civilian population.
  Many U.S. partners that are States Parties to Additional Protocol I, however, are bound by this definition of
  lawful combatants (as defined in AP I art. 43-44), to the extent they have not taken a reservation, declaration,
  or understanding limiting the application of this definition.
  Rights, Duties, and Liabilities of Lawful Combatants
  1-52. Lawful combatants have a special legal status, which affords certain rights, duties, and liabilities. They
  may lawfully engage in hostilities and are liable to be made the object of attack by lawful combatants from
  enemy armed forces. Lawful combatants must conduct their operations in accordance with LOAC. They have
  the right to POW status if they fall into the power of the enemy during international armed conflict. Such
  lawful combatants also have legal immunity from foreign domestic law (combatant immunity) for belligerent
  acts done under military authority and in accordance with LOAC.
  Nationality and Combatant Status
  1-53. Members of enemy armed forces may include nationals of neutral or non-belligerent States. Nationals
  of a neutral or non-belligerent State who are members of the armed forces of a belligerent State should be
  treated like other members of that State’s armed forces. However, the special privileges international law
  affords lawful combatants do not apply between nationals and their own State. For example, provisions of
  the GPW recognize that nationals of the detaining power are not POWs (GPW art. 87). Thus, international