» Not to be confused with a reprise. In warfare, a reprisal's a limited and deliberate violation of the laws of war to punish an enemy who's already broken them. A legally executed reprisal isn't an . To be legally justified, a reprisal can only be directed against the party carrying out the original violation, can only be carried out as a last resort, after having given formal notice of the planned reprisal, must be proportionate to the original violation, must've the aim of persuading the ori… (More on Reprisal)