Combat ( French for fight ) is a purposeful violent conflict between multiple combatants with the intent to harm the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons ) or unarmed ( not using weapons ). Combat is resorted to either as a method of self-defense or to impose one's will upon others. An instance of combat can be a standalone confrontation or part of a wider conflict, and its scale can range from a fight between individuals to a war between organized groups. Combat may also be benign and recreational , as in the cases of combat sports and mock combat .
7-522: A belligerent is an individual, group, country, or other entity that acts in a hostile manner, such as engaging in combat . The term comes from the Latin bellum gerere ("to wage war"). Unlike the use of belligerent as an adjective meaning "aggressive", its use as a noun does not necessarily imply that a belligerent country is an aggressor . In times of war , belligerent countries can be contrasted with neutral countries and non-belligerents . However,
14-402: A ranged weapon . Hand-to-hand combat can be further divided into three sections depending on the distance and positioning of the combatants: Military combat always involves between two or more opposing military forces in warfare . Military combat situations can involve multiple groups, such as guerilla groups, insurgents , domestic and/or foreign governments . A military combat situation
21-881: A conflict invoking the right to self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter (as the United Kingdom did in 1982 before the start of the Falklands War ) or under the auspices of a United Nations Security Council resolution (such as the United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 , which gave legal authority for the Gulf War ). A state of belligerency may also exist between one or more sovereign states on one side and rebel forces, if such rebel forces are recognised as belligerents. If there
28-568: Is a rebellion against a constituted authority (for example, an authority recognised as such by the United Nations), and those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents, the rebellion is an insurgency . Once the status of belligerency is established between two or more states, their relations are determined and governed by the laws of war. Combat Combat may comply with, or be in violation of, local or international laws regarding conflict. Examples of rules include
35-448: Is known either as a battle or a war, depending on the size of the fighting and which geographical areas in which it occurs. Combat effectiveness has always demanded that the personnel maintain strategic preparedness by being sufficiently trained , armed , equipped , and funded to carry out combat operations in the unit to which they are assigned. Warfare falls under the law of war , which govern its purposes and conduct, and protect
42-547: The Geneva Conventions (covering the treatment of people in war), medieval chivalry , the Marquess of Queensberry Rules (covering boxing), and the individual rulesets of various combat sports. Hand-to-hand combat ( melee ) is combat at very close range, attacking the opponent with the body ( striking , kicking , strangling , etc.) and/or with a melee weapon ( knives , swords , batons , etc.), as opposed to
49-415: The application of the laws of war to neutral countries and the responsibilities of belligerents are not affected by any distinction between neutral countries , neutral powers or non-belligerents . "Belligerency" is a term used in international law to indicate the status of two or more entities, generally sovereign states, being engaged in a war . Wars are often fought with one or both parties to
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