ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the definition of military objectives, which indicates that the definite military advantage may be achieved through three methods: destruction, capture or neutralization. It analyses the final component attached to the second element of the definition, namely circumstances ruling at the time. This requirement is very important, as it ensures that the second element of the definition has to be satisfied at the particular point of time. The anticipated military advantage resulting from the destruction, neutralization of certain bridges may diminish or increase during the course of the conflict. Neutralization, like capture, was introduced into the text of the definition only during the negotiations of Additional Protocol I (API), and was eventually adopted. Unplanned targets, although seen as targets of opportunity, include known objects from a list of targets, but which are not selected for engagement in the given time. In such cases, targeting decisions have to be made in a matter of seconds.
