beligerantes

Belligerents are parties engaged in war or armed conflict. This term typically refers to states or organized groups that are actively participating in hostilities. The concept of belligerency is important in international law, particularly in the laws of armed conflict. When a group is recognized as a belligerent, it gains certain rights and obligations under international humanitarian law, such as the right to treat prisoners of war as such and the obligation to distinguish between combatants and civilians. Recognition of belligerency is a formal act, often undertaken by third-party states, that acknowledges the existence of a state of war and grants the belligerent party a degree of legal standing. However, it does not necessarily imply political recognition of the belligerent group's legitimacy or claims. The status of belligerency can be temporary and is usually lifted once hostilities cease. It is distinct from the status of combatant, which refers to individuals participating directly in fighting, though combatants are typically part of a belligerent entity.