combatant

thumb|Afghan soldiers on patrol in 2011, during the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan. As adult armed personnel in active service with a military force, they would legally be considered combatants and therefore could launch targeted attacks against, or be subject to targeted attacks by, opposing armed forces. Combatant is the legal status of a person entitled to directly participate in hostilities during an armed conflict, and may be intentionally targeted by a belligerent for their participation in the armed conflict under the law of war. Combatants are not afforded immunity from being directly targeted in situations of armed conflict and can be attacked regardless of the specific circumstances simply due to their status, so as to deprive their side of their support.

In interstate or international armed conflicts, the definition of "combatant" is found in Article 43(2) of "Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts" (Protocol I): "Members of the armed forces of a Party to a conflict (other than medical personnel and chaplains covered by Article 33 of the Third Geneva Convention) are combatants, that is to say, they have the right to participate directly in hostilities." When captured by an opposing party, combatants are automatically granted the status of protected persons.