Hors de combat

Hors de combat, literally meaning "out of the fight," is a term used in diplomacy and international law to refer to soldiers who are incapable of performing their military function. Examples include a downed fighter jet pilot, as well as the sick, wounded, detained, or otherwise disabled. Soldiers hors de combat are normally granted special protections according to the laws of war, sometimes including prisoner of war status.

See also

• Combatant
• Non-combatant
• Unlawful combatant