Abstract
The classification of an armed conflict as either international, non-international or possibly internationalized/transnational etc. has far-reaching consequences, particularly connected with the scope of application of humanitarian law. There have been many controversial cases involving the classification of armed conflicts in recent time that attracted the attention of both international courts and tribunals and doctrine.
The article presents some of the cases that the ICJ and, particularly, the ICTY dealt with and attempts to identify controversial points and explain them. Additionally, the article discusses new types of armed conflicts, e.g. cyber conflicts, several simultaneous conflicts of non-international character taking place within territories of more than one state, etc., that create controversies as to their classification and attempts to present opinions as to the matter based on the existing definitions.