All military units have an inherent right to defend themselves. That means they can attack without orders if they are attacked or if an attack on them is imminent (missile lock, pointing a gun etc)
military units have an inherent right to defend themselves.
That is the point of the mockery. There is no such as an inherently right to defend yourself except in the legal fiction that is international/military law.
That would be like me claiming I have the inherent right to defend myself.....even when I've just kicked down my neighbor's door while wielding a rifle.
Law that disregards context, motive, or logic is just a constructed fiction to justify intent.
Except that's granting the narrative that this was in fact self-defense. The fact you're not questioning America's framing on this reveals you're not as neutral as your words suggest.