Oona Hathaway
@oonahathaway.bsky.social
Professor at Yale Law School & Professor of Political Science at Yale University; President, American Society of International Law; Executive Editor at Just Security; former Special Counsel at U.S. Department of Defense. Website: oonahathaway.com.
Announcing our second Plenary Speaker: @oonahathaway.bsky.social! Oona A. Hathaway is the Gerard C. and Bernice Latrobe Smith Professor of International Law at Yale Law School. Find out more and register for International Law Weekend 2026 here: www.ila-americanbranch.org/internationa...
In today’s #MustRead, @oonahathaway.bsky.social argues that the Iran war exposed the limits of America’s go-it-alone strategy, warning that U.S. power depends not just on military strength, but on alliances, institutions, and global trust built over decades. ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/2026/06/21/o...
Opinion | You Can’t Be a Superpower Without Allies
nytimes.com
"Mr. Trump wants to make America great again, but he fails to understand that what made America great was not its power to achieve its ends unilaterally but its singular ability to build international institutions that embodied its values and interests and that others wanted to join." My latest:
"War Crimes: When the State Becomes the Perpetrator." I appreciated the chance to be interviewed for this documentary by Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen, a major national public-service broadcaster in Germany. (It is in German.) You can watch here: www.zdf.de/video/dokus/...
Does International Law Make A Difference? This is the question I've grappled with throughout my career. Read my wide-ranging conversation with the co-editors-in-chief of the Yale Journal of International Law. yjil.yale.edu/posts/2026-0...
Does International Law Make A Difference? In Conversation with Oona A. Hathaway
YJIL’s Vol. 52 reached out to Prof. Oona A. Hathaway for her thoughts about the current landscape of international law and her new role with ASIL.
yjil.yale.edu
It's time for Congress to step up. It should start by cutting off funding for this war until Congress authorizes it. Then it needs to reform the War Powers Act to do the same for all future conflicts so that we don't find ourselves right back here again. www.stripes.com/theaters/us/...
Military veterans in Congress propose bills to limit Iran war
Military veterans in Congress are seeking to place limits on the U.S. war against Iran through two newly introduced bills.
stripes.com
The Defense Department has requested funds for danger pay to troops that are at increased risk of taking hostile fire or other dangers. Rather than paying more danger pay, let's stop the illegal war of choice that's putting our troops in danger. www.militarytimes.com/news/your-mi...
Danger pay for US troops could double, expand to more regions
The U.S. defense budget request for Fiscal Year 2027 has raised the prospect of an increase in the monthly stipend paid out to troops in dangerous regions.
militarytimes.com
As the death toll reaches 190, it's time for another reminder that the boat strikes are unlawful under both international and domestic law--and they are a stain on our national conscience. For much more, take a look at this @justsecurity.org collection: www.justsecurity.org/120753/colle...
Collection: U.S. Lethal Strikes on Suspected Drug Traffickers, Operation Southern Spear, Operation Absolute Resolve
Collection of expert analysis on the legality of the U.S. strike on Venezuelan vessels in the Caribbean, the consequences of the strike, and related issues.
justsecurity.org
The New York Times@nytimes.com · 3mo agoThe U.S. military said on Tuesday that it had struck another boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing three people and bringing the death toll to at least 190 in the monthslong campaign against those who the U.S. alleges are engaged in drug smuggling at sea.
Trump sends US warships into the Persian Gulf to escort trapped ships out of the Strait of Hormuz, potentially making a dangerous situation even more dangerous. Featuring @oonahathaway.bsky.social, Professor of International Law at Yale Law School. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...
Trump's Triply Illegal War on Iran Just Got More Dangerous
May 4, 2026 - Oona Hathaway backgroundbriefing.org/donate x.com/ianmastersmedia bsky.app/profile/ianmastersmedia.bsky.social facebook.com/ianmastersmedia
soundcloud.com
This is what ongoing hostilities looks like. But to be clear, the blockade & state of military confrontation were enough to constitute continuing "hostilities" under the WPR 60-day clock before the latest skirmish, as @oonahathaway.bsky.social and I explained👇 www.justsecurity.org/137669/60-da...
At the 60-Day Mark, the Iran War is Triply Illegal
An expert analysis of the War Powers Resolution and hostilities against Iran. Trump must now terminate the war he began two months ago.
justsecurity.org
Ryan Goodman@rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 3mo agoThis directly undercuts the White House's assurance to Congress to try to get out from under the War Powers Resolution "Military tensions flared in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, as several vessels were struck amid Iranian threats, while the U.S. sent in destroyers and fought off further attacks."
1/ NEW: The Trump administration's new notification to Congress attempting to get out from under the War Powers Resolution 60-day clock for its #Iran war is utterly unconvincing, and also breaks new ground in a few interesting ways:
Today, Trump "will take a war that is already doubly illegal and turn it into a triply-illegal war. He will also make it clear, if it was not already, that he regards the law as no constraint on his use of the U.S. military’s lethal power." Read more here: www.justsecurity.org/137669/60-da...
At the 60-Day Mark, the Iran War is Triply Illegal
An expert analysis of the War Powers Resolution and hostilities against Iran. Trump must now terminate the war he began two months ago.
justsecurity.org
The war in Iran becomes triply illegal today. Read more from me and @tessbridgeman.bsky.social:
Just Security@justsecurity.org · 3mo agoThe 60 Day Clock on the Iran War expires today, May 1. @tessbridgeman.bsky.social and @oonahathaway.bsky.social write: The war is now “triply illegal” – and the War Powers Resolution, passed by supermajorities in both chambers of Congress, now requires President Trump to terminate hostilities.
Civilians harmed in war are nearly always left to pick up the pieces alone. With @oonahathaway.bsky.social and @sarahdonilon.bsky.social, we propose a comprehensive scheme for compensating them, building on longstanding U.S. programs for other civilians we put in harm's way. Check it out:
Oona Hathaway@oonahathaway.bsky.social · 3mo agoWhat do states owe the innocent civilians they kill in war? When we started this article, we had no idea how relevant it would be when it was published. "War Hazards Compensation for Civilians"--now out! With coauthors @sarahdonilon.bsky.social & Carter Squires. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
What do states owe the innocent civilians they kill in war? When we started this article, we had no idea how relevant it would be when it was published. "War Hazards Compensation for Civilians"--now out! With coauthors @sarahdonilon.bsky.social & Carter Squires. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Congratulations to the new members of the @ajil.bsky.social board! @dianemarieamann.bsky.social and @tomdannenbaum.bsky.social are outstanding scholars and will bring their expertise to AJIL, the flagship publication of @asilorg.bsky.social and the leading international law journal in the world.
AJIL and AJIL Unbound@ajil.bsky.social · 3mo agoWe are thrilled to have Diane Marie Amann and Tom Dannenbaum join the AJIL Board, and we welcome back Karen Alter, Antony Anghie, Larry Helfer, Stephen McCaffrey, and Carlos Manuel Vásquez as Honorary Board Members. Congratulations!
This piece @scottjshapiro.bsky.social and I wrote in 2020 suddenly seems very timely. You can read it here: authory.com/app/content/... or here: foreignpolicy.com/2020/07/04/a...
It seems trivial, but this move to rename the Department of Defense the Department of War (at a cost of $50-$100 million) symbolizes Trump's broader rejection of the postwar legal order, grounded in the prohibition on the use of force. Congress must vote no. www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...
Pentagon asks Congress to codify ‘Department of War,’ estimates $52 million cost
Only Congress has the authority to permanently rename executive department names, and it has not yet changed the title of the Department of Defense.
militarytimes.com
New article! "Queering the Crime of Persecution," with Samantha Kiernan, in SJIL. It explains the distinct harm caused by persecution based on real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity and the importance of recognizing it as a crime of persecution. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
I am honored to assume the presidency of @asilorg.bsky.social. Our 4000 members share a mission: to foster the study of international law, and to promote the establishment and maintenance of international relations on the basis of law and justice. www.justsecurity.org/137021/remar...
Remarks of Incoming ASIL President Oona Hathaway
In her address to the ASIL annual meeting, incoming president Oona Hathaway says international law has never mattered more than it does right now.
justsecurity.org
I enjoyed this conversation about international law and why and how it matters—today more than ever. Take a listen:
IMD @imdbusinessschool.bsky.social · 3mo agoIn the latest episode of #LeadersUnplugged, the Yale law professor and leading expert on international law discusses with IMD President David Bach whether international law is still relevant – and why #business leaders need to speak up against the Iran war. Listen now: bit.ly/41PGHiq
I guess that's me. (Interesting to see my tweets turned into a "story.") www.msn.com/en-us/news/p...
The War in Iran is maybe over, maybe not, but what happens next? What happens to the US after we blew through international agreements, US law, alienated our allies, and set an example for our adversaries? @oonahathaway.bsky.social joins me on Make It Make Sense to talk about it all.
Great conversation about the Iran war and the many legal issues it raises. Take a listen: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m...
America Already Crossed the Line in Iran. What Happens Now? w/ Oona Hathaway
Podcast Episode · Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes · April 17 · 33m
podcasts.apple.com
Excited to see the Spanish edition of "The Internationalists" now out! LOS INTERNACIONALISTAS: UN PLAN REVOLUCIONARIO QUE PROSCRIBIÓ LA GUERRA Y REINVENTÓ EL MUNDO: 21 (BIBLIOTECA DE LITERATURA Y DERECHOS HUMANOS BERG INSTITUTE) www.amazon.es/-/en/LOS-INT...
Yale Law School Prof. @oonahathaway.bsky.social said in Feb. the Supreme Court has become "extremely partisan in a way that we haven't seen... in my lifetime." "Big question is, are they going to apply the same limitations to President Trump that they applied to President Biden?" bit.ly/4vdQmN0
On Saturday, a U.S. boat strike killed another five people, leaving one survivor, bringing the number of people who have been killed in illegal boat strikes by the U.S. military to at least 168 since the Trump administration began targeting boats in early September. apnews.com/article/boat...
Strikes on alleged drug boats kill 5, leave 1 survivor in eastern Pacific, US military says
The U.S. military says it blew up two boats accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
apnews.com
"It's absolutely critical that young people turn out to vote, express themselves, and play their role in our constitutional democracy, because it won't work if they don't," says @yalelawschool-yls.bsky.social Professor @oonahathaway.bsky.social. Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4vdQmN0
