If a noncombatant threatens your life, their status changes to what?

In situations involving noncombatants, the principle of distinction is crucial, which dictates that only combatants and military objectives may be lawfully targeted in armed conflict. However, if a noncombatant actively engages in unlawful hostilities or directly threatens a member of the armed forces, their status can shift.

When a noncombatant threatens your life, they may be considered to no longer be acting in line with their noncombatant status and instead may be classified as a combatant, albeit in a specific context that falls under the concept of unlawful combatant. This means they engage in hostilities without the legal right to do so, but this classification is often broader than just a simple designation like "combatant."

Under international law, notably the Geneva Conventions, combatants are those who have the right to take part in hostilities, while unlawful combatants do not have those rights and can be held accountable for their actions. However, the choice indicating 'lawful combatant' stipulates that the individual would still be entitled to combatant privileges and protections, which contradicts the essence of what occurs in this case.

Hence, when analyzing the threat posed by a noncombatant, their actions can reclassify them in a manner that