JohninMK wrote:A bit about the legality of foreign intervention. This is the last part of the article
However, if even more concrete proof emerges that the French attacks were masterminded and directed from inside ISIL bases in Syria, NATO states would still face more international legal hurdles over the question of increased military intervention, principally because ISIL is not considered to be a legitimate state.
In similar international law cases against non-legitimate states, the right to self-defense has been ruled to be unlawful.
This was demonstrated in a 2004 International Court of Justice decision, which ruled that Israel's construction of a security wall in the Palestinian territories was illegal, as self-defense clauses could only be invoked against states, and Israel hadn't recognized Palestinian statehood. The precedent also opens up many questions about the legality of the US-led international coalition's current fight against ISIL positions in Syria.
While the US, France and other countries have justified their decision to bomb ISIL targets in Syria based on threats to national security, the fact that many states haven't sought the approval of Bashar al-Assad's Syrian government raises more legal questions.
The issue of legality is also central to the ISIL debate in the UK, with lawmakers — seemingly still affected by the illegal Iraq invasion of 2003 — unwilling to ratify a military campaign in Syria without UN approval.
While the West has criticized Russia's intervention in Syria in recent times, officials in Moscow point out that unlike the legal uncertainties surrounding the US-led anti-ISIL campaign, Russia has clearly adhered to international law, by becoming involved in Syria following a request from Damascus.
So, despite many agreeing with Hollande that the weekend's tragic events need to be dealt with mercilessly, it seems there are still many legal questions as to whether the West can wage all out war against ISIL.
Read more: http://sputniknews.com/europe/20151116/1030190121/isil-syria-intervention-legality.html#ixzz3rfrPsq8a
If we talk about international law, then what about Russia arming rebels in Donbas. Ukraine is a UN member and an internationally recognized sovereign country. If Russia arms rebels in Donbas, then by Russia's own standard that breaks international law since Russia officially recognizes the Poroshenko government and not rebels.