Why don't Hezbollah wear uniforms? Is it a breach of international law?

Question

Arn't all armies supposed to wear uniforms?
How can you tell if they have been killed? Have they been included as civilian casualties?

Answer 1

You're right. The Geneva Conventions are very big on the requirement of combatants to wear distinguishing uniforms and to not fight out of civilian areas.

"Terrorism" is the exact opposite of these "rules of war" where civilians are the target, instead of enemy soldiers or their military installations.

But remember these are "Western" rules. They have never been followed in Araby. In the way Arabs prefer to fight, every human is a legitimate target and every place is a battlefield.

Answer 2

Hezbollah is not the army of Lebanon. Lebanon does have an army. Hezbollah is a militia of guerrilla fighters that are sponsored by Iran and Syria. They keep their civilian clothes to blend in with the general population. If a person in civilian clothes is killed in a bunker or next to a missile launcher, it may be assumed that he was a member of Hezbollah.

Answer 3

all the previous answers are partially right, and I may miss some things as well. Hez is not an internationally recognized political group organized as a country. They are not signatories of the Geneva Conventions which specifies uniformed combatants AND the limiting of civilian causalities. Have they been included in the civilian causalities, I do not know, but that is the way to bet. They are a terrorist group pure and simple.

Answer 4

According to the Geneva Conventions, to be considered a combatant, you must:

be commanded by a person responsible for his subordinates
have a fixed distinctive sign recognizable at a distance
carry arms openly
conduct their operations in accordance with the laws and customs of war

Answer 5

they don't wear uniforms because they are just a terrorist group and are "not" government military. Israel knows who is who. No, they have not been included as civilian casualties.

Answer 6

They aren't an army. They are a terrorist organization dedicated to the annhilation of Israel. They hide in civilian areas to create bad press for Israel when their attacks kill civilians.

Answer 7

They don't wear uniforms because they don't want anyone to recognize them, and it gives them leeway to attack their opponent without warning. The Vietcong guerrillas did the same thing during the Vietnam War.

Answer 8

Hizbollah is no little guerella group.they are an amry of resistance,an actual army belonging to no state formed for the sole purpose of freeing Lebannon from Israeli occupation so they can't be terrorists.Look at at Israel first,Just because they are a recognised state doesnt make theyre acts permissable. anyway Hizbollah is nothing like those little groups we hear about in Iraq and Afganistan,Hizbollah is very organised and very determaned for its cause. Please take note that this conflict is just a continual of the first phase when Israel occupied Lebannon for 20 odd years.Israel has very much unfinished business in Lebannon as much as Hizbollah wanting the return of prisoners. watch the first video of Mr George Galloway.The rest are of Hezbollah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=249JaIaubVw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KJOFyCiHlE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmvIQyZk0VA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgGwVxH_R18

Answer 9

they are the nmber 1 cowards i bet you they transport bodies from one place to another to make believe many people died by the way they have money , but if they are ever short of it they 'll ask iran

Answer 10

So they can blend in better with the civilians.