Table 1-1. Application of basic LOAC principlesÂ
| Principle | Alternate Names | Paragraphs | Summary |
| Military Necessity | 1-23 to 1-27 | Justifies the use of all measures required to defeat the enemy as quickly and efficiently as possible that are not prohibited by the law of armed conflict. | |
| Humanity | Humanitarian Principle; Unnecessary Suffering; Superfluous Injury | 1-28 to 1-30 | Basis of protection for civilians; forbids inflicting suffering, injury, damage, or destruction unnecessary to accomplish a legitimate military purpose. |
| Honor | Chivalry | 1-31 to 1-33 | Demands a certain amount of fairness and a certain mutual respect between opposing forces. |
| Distinction | Discrimination | 1-34 to 1-43 | Distinguishing between combatants and military objectives on the one hand and civilians and civilian objects on the other in offense and defense. |
| Proportionality | 1-44 to 1-48 | Requires commanders to refrain from attacks in which the expected loss or injury to civilians and damage to civilian objects incidental to such attacks would be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage expected to be gained. It also underlies the requirement to take feasible precautions to reduce the risk of harm to civilians, other protected persons and civilian objects. |