LOAC principle of proportionality says what?

• A. It requires proportional distribution of resources among forces.
• B. It allows unlimited collateral damage as long as military objective is near.
• C. It is met by ignoring civilian harm.
• D. Attacks must not cause collateral damage excessive relative to the direct military objective.

Answer: (D)

Proportionality in LOAC requires a balance between the military objective and potential civilian harm. An attack is allowed only if the expected collateral damage to civilians and civilian objects is not excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military objective being pursued. This means you may take necessary military actions, but you must weigh the anticipated harm to civilians against the military gain, and avoid methods or targets where the harm would be disproportionate. The other statements miss this balance: one focuses on distributing resources, another allows unlimited collateral damage, and another implies ignoring civilian harm. So the correct framing is that attacks must not cause collateral damage that is excessive relative to the direct military objective.