This force has about 20, 000 highly trained personnel specializing in international terrorism, armed conflict and support of proxies in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, the West Bank and Gaza.

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The international community's refusal to recognize an armed conflict in Syria can only be characterized as not seeing the forest for the trees.

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The Hague Convention is the principal international instrument concerning the protection of cultural property during armed conflict and military occupation.

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Applicable during times of armed conflict, they form the cornerstone of international humanitarian law, setting rules for the treatment of people who are not participating in the fighting -- civilians, health workers and aid workers -- as well as for the wounded, sick or prisoners of war.

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Common Article 3 of the conventions, which relates to "non-international armed conflicts" -- the most common form of conflict in the world today -- is applicable to the situation in Syria.

CNN: Can the Geneva Conventions stop the carnage in Syria?

According to the Clinton Administration, for example, our armed forces could not use tear gas in an international conflict in which enemy combatants employed women and children as shields while prosecuting their attacks.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center for Security Policy | EXCERPTS OF TESTIMONY BY FRANK J. GAFFNEY, JR. before the SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE

Targeting civilians in armed conflict is an intentional act which is a crime under international law.

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It is the first international treaty of a vocation dedicated exclusively to the protection of cultural heritage in the event of armed conflict.

UNESCO: CYPRUS NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR UNESCO - Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict