Self-defense precludes the wrongfulness of the conduct taken within the limits laid down by international law. Article 21 of the Draft Articles states: “The wrongfulness of an act of a State is precluded if the act constitutes a lawful measure of self-defense taken in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations.” Under Article 51 of the UN Charter, a state has an inherent right of self-defense in the face of an armed attack.