CyberAttacks Can Trigger Self Defense

The State Department's Legal Advisor Harold Koh said last week that cyber-attacks on the U.S. could trigger the self-defense rule, allowing the United States to take military action against the perpetrator - assuming the perpetrator could be positively identified. From the Washington Post article:

In the United States’ view, any illegal use of force potentially triggers the right of national self-defense, Koh said. 

Cyberattacks that cause a nuclear plant meltdown, open a dam above a populated area or disable an air-traffic control system resulting in plane crashes are examples of activity that probably would constitute an illegal use of force, he said.

image: www.acus.org