International Humanitarian Law (HL), also known as the law of armed conflict, serves as a crucial legal framework aimed at mitigating the devastating impact of armed conflicts. The primary purpose of IHL is to regulate and restrict the means and methods of warfare while ensuring the humane treatment of individuals participating in hostilities and civilians alike. Through lectures, class debates and practical exercises, the course will acquaint students with the various aspects of IHL including its history, theory, and practice. Among others, the course will investigate the historical, philosophical and conceptual foundations of IHL, its scope and governing principles, and its relation to other bodies of international law. Finally, the course will focus on some of the contemporary challenges to, and current debates on, IHL. Crucially, the course will also examine the intersections and contradictions between IHL’s legal and moral framework and the perspective of national and international officials who wage modern conflicts. The key themes therefore guiding the course will be whether the goals of IHL and contemporary conflict strategies are compatible, and if not, what changes are necessary to either one.