enemy combatants

Enemy combatants are individuals engaged in armed conflict against a state's military forces. They are members of an organized armed group, such as soldiers of a hostile nation or insurgent fighters. International laws, like the Geneva Conventions, differentiate enemy combatants from civilians, granting them certain rights and obligations during conflict. The designation influences how they are captured, treated, and prosecuted. While combatants have legal protections, those who do not adhere to the laws of war may lose certain protections and be considered unlawful or unlawful enemy combatants.