In war or maritime situations, the phrase “no quarter” translates to the act of taking no “mercy” on prisoners collected in action. Translated one step further, no quarter for POW’s means execution — killing prisoners to save space or resources, which directly violates international humanitarian law under the Hague Conventions in 1899 and 1907, and the 1949 Geneva Convention. Article 22 of the Hague proceedings states that “the right of belligerents to adopt means of injuring the enemy is not unlimited,” meaning a nation may not go as far as they please with their captives.
Domestic prohibition in the United States against no quarter wartime treatment began during the Civil War, when America established the Lieber Code to prevent extreme mistreatment of prisoners of war.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth declared America will “keep pushing, keep advancing, no quarter, no mercy for our enemies,” in regard to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, at a March 13 news briefing.
While it’s evident the Trump administration has goals to appear forceful and aggressive, Hegseth took his speech too far — legally — while explaining how American troops will operate in the US-Israeli war with Iran, but also worldwide, like in its occupation of Venezuela and in international waters. Essentially, violating no quarter regulations by killing prisoners breaks international laws of war.
Wartime threats of no quarter have centuries-old illegal precedence. The Trump administration has repeatedly ignored orders by judges and prior governance precedent, going so far as to openly challenge the judicial authority that’s in place to hold them accountable.
Toward the end of 2025 and having ramped up in Trump’s second term in office, the U.S. has reduced its participation in international treaties, from environmental protection agreements to wartime practices under Trump’s “America First” mentality. The country withdrew from more than 60 international policies in 2026, including the United Nations Human Health Council. Trump originally withdrew in 2018 before former President Joe Biden re-entered in 2021, but Trump reversed it back Feb. 4, 2026 with an executive order.
When asked by press at a media conference with U.S. Southern Command, Marine Gen. Francis Donovan told reporters he “would not follow an unlawful order.” Coming from a senior military official, this mindset is bold but remains to be seen if it’s customary international law or Hegseth’s speech passed down the line to operating American soldiers.
