Targeted killing

Combat drones, such as the Predator drone , are mainly used in targeted killings. Targeted killing is defined as a form of assassination which is carried out by governments against their perceived enemies. Analysts believe that it is a modern euphemism for the assassination (prominent premeditated killing) of an individual by a state organization or institution outside a judicial procedure or a battlefield . Since the late 20th century, the legal status of targeted killing has become a subject of contention within and between various nations. Historically, at least since the mid-eighteenth century, Western thinking has generally considered the use of assassination as a tool of statecraft to be illegal. Some academics, military personnel and officials describe targeted killing as legitimate within the context of self-defense, when employed against terrorists or combatants engaged in asymmetrical warfare. They argue that drones are more humane and more accurate than manned vehicles, and that targeted or "named killings" do not occur in any context other than a declared state of war. Some twenty-six members of United States Congress , with academics such as Gregory Johnsen and Charles Schmitz, media figures ( Jeremy Scahill , Glenn Greenwald , James Traub ), civil rights groups (i.e. the American Civil Liberties Union ) and ex- CIA station chief in Islamabad , Robert Grenier , have criticized targeted killings as a form of extrajudicial killings , which may be illegal within the United States and possibly under international law . According to statistical analyses provided by Reprieve , 9 children have been killed for every targeted adult the United States has tried to assassinate, and, in numerous failed attempts to kill Ayman al-Zawahri , the CIA has killed 76 children and 29 adult bystanders. Scholars are also divided as to whether targeted killings are an effective counterterrorism strategy.

Removal of enemy combatants by governments against enemy forces. Targeted killings are frequently performed using unmanned combat aerial vehicles like the MQ-9 Reaper . Targeted killing is a form of assassination carried out by governments outside a judicial procedure or a battlefield . Since the late 20th century, the legal status of targeted killing has become a subject of contention within and between various nations. Historically, at least since the mid-eighteenth century, Western thinking has generally considered the use of assassination as a tool of statecraft to be illegal. Some academics, military personnel and officials describe targeted killing as legitimate within the context of self-defense, when employed against terrorists or combatants engaged in asymmetrical warfare . They argue that drones are more humane and more accurate than manned vehicles, and that targeted or "named killings" do not occur in any context other than a declared state of war. Scholars are also divided as to whether targeted killings are an effective counterterrorism strategy.

Extrajudicial assassination by governments Modern targeted killings are frequently performed using unmanned combat aerial vehicles like the MQ-9 Reaper . Targeted killing is a form of assassination carried out by governments outside a judicial procedure or a battlefield . Since the late 20th century, the legal status of targeted killing has become a subject of contention within and between various nations. Historically, at least since the mid-eighteenth century, Western thinking has generally considered the use of assassination as a tool of statecraft to be illegal. Some academics, military personnel and officials describe targeted killing as legitimate within the context of self-defense, when employed against terrorists or combatants engaged in asymmetrical warfare . They argue that unmanned combat aerial vehicles (drones) are more humane and more accurate than manned vehicles. Scholars are also divided as to whether targeted killings are an effective counterterrorism strategy.