Advanced Journal of Management, Humanity and Social Science

International Responsibility of States Supplying Arms to an Aggressor State in War: An International Law Perspective

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Ahmad Sohail Yosefi

Department of Law, Payame Noor University (PNU), P.O. Box, 19395-3697, Tehran, Iran

10.5281/zenodo.23591538
Abstract
A state incurs international responsibility when it commits an internationally wrongful act. Assuming that conduct consisting of an act or omission has occurred, Article 2 of the Draft Convention on the International Responsibility of States requires two elements for an international wrong to be established. First, the act or omission must be attributable to a state under international law. Second, the conduct must constitute a breach of that state’s international obligations. Together, these two conditions provide a sufficient basis for establishing international responsibility. In some cases, the respondent state may argue that its act or omission was justified, for example, on the grounds of self-defence or force majeure. Under international law, such defences or justifications are referred to as “circumstances precluding wrongfulness.” This study aims to explain the international responsibility of states that arm a country recognised as an aggressor in a war. For example, despite international agreements, the United States has supplied Israel with tactical and strategic weapons on a daily basis over the past year. Invoking the concept of self-defence, Israel has waged an extensive war against Muslim countries and has conducted this war with American weapons. Accordingly, this study examines the international responsibility of states such as the United States for international violations involving the supply of arms to aggressor states, including Israel. Two principal issues are considered. The first concerns the conduct of states such as the United States which, despite knowing that Israel uses their weapons in warfare against civilians, may be regarded as complicit in its international crimes. The second concerns the validity of the United States’ reliance on self-defence to justify arms transfers to Israel, a position that faces serious challenges under international law.

Graphical Abstract

International Responsibility of States Supplying Arms to an Aggressor State in War: An International Law Perspective

Keywords

International Responsibility
War
Arming an Aggressor
International Law
Subjects
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Advanced Journal of Management, Humanity and Social Science
Volume 2, Issue 5
September and October 2026
Pages 454-471

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