Pepper spray and tear gas are not able to be used as part of conventional offensive military tactics due to chemical weapon prohibitions.

“The 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), an international arms control treaty, explicitly prohibits the use of "riot control agents," which include tear gas and pepper spray, as a "method of warfare." This is confirmed by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and numerous legal analyses. While the treaty allows for their use in domestic law enforcement and certain non-combat situations (like controlling riots), their deployment in offensive military operations is banned. Context: The claim is accurate regarding international law. However, the CWC does permit the use of these agents for domestic law enforcement, which can include military personnel acting in that capacity (e.g., controlling a riot at a military installation or in peacekeeping operations). The key distinction in the treaty is the prohibition of their use as a "method of warfare."”