text: Conduct of Hostilities
  As seen in the list of traditional military objectives in paragraph 2-56, military objectives are not
  limited to military bases, units, equipment, or forces, but can include other objects that make an effective
  contribution to an opposing party’s ability to wage war.
  The term “military target” is a more limited term, as well as redundant, and should not be used.
  Moreover, the term “civilian target” is an oxymoron and should not be used inasmuch as a civilian object is
  not a military objective and therefore is immune from intentional attack. If sufficient military necessity exists
  to justify attacking an object because that objects meets the definition of military objective, then imperative
  military necessity would also exist to justify seizing or destroying that object by measures short of attack (see
  paragraphs 2-189 through 2-194).
  Dual-Use Object
  Sometimes, “dual-use” is used to describe objects that are used by both the armed forces and the
  civilian population, such as power stations or communications facilities. From the legal perspective, however,
  such objects are either military objectives or they are not; there is no intermediate legal category of “dual
  use.” If an object is a military objective, it is not a civilian object and may be made the object of attack. When
  the attack on a military objective will impact the civilian population or civilian objects, commanders must
  conduct a proportionality analysis (see DOD Law of War Manual, 5.6.1.2).
  Objectives That Are Not Enemy Military Bases or Equipment
  Insofar as objects are concerned, if the objective is not an enemy military base, military equipment,
  other type of object that is categorically recognized as a military object, such as military facilities or objects
  containing military objectives, applying the definition of military objective requires a two-part test. Both
  parts must apply before an object that is normally a civilian object may be considered a military objective:
  (1)that the object somehow “makes an effective contribution to military action”; and (2) that attacking the
  object, in the circumstances ruling at the time, offers a definite military advantage (see DOD Law of War
  Manual, 5.6.5).
  Generally, the reason why the object meets the first part of the definition also satisfies the second part
  of the definition. In other words, attacking the object in the circumstances ruling at the time would offer a
  definite military advantage because it could preclude the object from effectively contributing to the enemy’s
  military action. The two parts are not necessarily connected, however, because the concept of definite military
  advantage is broader than simply denying the adversary the benefit of an object’s effective contribution to its
  military operations. These broader aspects of “military advantage” also may be relevant in evaluating whether
  an attack is expected to be excessive under the principle of proportionality.
  By Its Nature, Location, Purpose, or Use Makes an Effective Contribution to Military Action
  The first part of the test is whether the object, by its nature, location, purpose, or use makes an effective
  contribution to the enemy’s military action.
  Nature, Location, Purpose, or Use. The nature, location, purpose, or use of the object may contribute
  to the object making an effective contribution to the enemy’s military action. The issue is whether, in total,
  an effective contribution is made; one factor alone need not provide the effective contribution. In addition,
  nature, location, purpose, or use need not be viewed as mutually exclusive concepts; rather, these concepts
  may be understood to overlap.
  Nature refers to the type of object and may be understood to refer to objects that are per se military
  objectives. For example, military equipment and facilities, by their nature, make an effective contribution to
  military action. On the other hand, “nature” also may be understood to refer to objects that because of their
  intrinsic nature may be used for military purposes.
  Location includes areas that are militarily important because they must be captured from or denied to
  an enemy, or because the enemy must be made to surrender or retreat from them. An area of land, such as a
  mountain pass, or a like route through or around a natural or manmade obstacle, may be a military objective.
  A town, village, or city may become a military objective, even if it does not contain military objectives, if its