I am interested but uninformed in this area, so I am wondering if there are rules in warfare. For Example, I am considering scenarios such as prohibiting the bombing of civilian structures.
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One thing to add to the other comments is while they’re right that enforcing the laws of war on a country that doesn’t want to follow them is difficult, that doesn’t mean they don’t have power.
For example, usually in a war, even if you win you’ll have to live alongside the people you’ve defeated and your neighbours. This is generally harder if they consider you to have committed war crimes. This is one reason why some form of rules for warfare go back to at least Ancient times.
Most wars end with some kind of negotiated settlement, and committing war crimes can make this harder. Would you strike a deal with someone like that? Can you trust them? For example, Ukraine was negotiating with Russia when the massacre at Bucha was revealed, and this is said to have ended Ukrainian willingness to make concessions.
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