[Alberta's Child]

Defense against pirates on the open seas is literally the oldest universally-accepted use-of-force justification there is.

It is.

That universally-accepted use-of-force justification only applies to ship crews defending themselves and/or military forces defending their own assets and interests on the open seas.

[freeandfreezing]

That universally-accepted use-of-force justification only applies to ship crews defending themselves and/or military forces defending their own assets and interests on the open seas.

Which is exactly what is happening.

[castlebrew]

Wrong. Britain waged a broad, naval campaign against pirates, actively tracking them down (offensive in nature, not defensive). Which happened to benefit all shipping in the affected areas.

When the bandits/pirates are land-based, and using land-based assets against shipping, then attacking those land-based assets is the right and proper course of action.