Targeted Killings

What is a Targeted Killing?

            The use of targeted killing has been hotly debated since the Israeli and United States governments started using the tactic. It has been defined by a United Nations special report as willful use of lethal force, that is a planned act by states in order to eliminate specific individuals not in their custody during armed conflict or peacetime (Council on Foreign Relations, 2013). Acts of deadly force are usually carried out by the country’s armed services or intelligence agencies. The methods used to commit targeted killings can vary from drone attacks, special operations raids or cruise missiles. The main focuses of these attacks are leadership personnel of the Taliban and al-Qaida networks in hard to access tribal regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Targeted killing attacks have also occurred in Yemen and Somalia.

             Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) commonly called drones are unmanned, controlled remotely, and lightweight have been around since the World War II. New advances in computer and electronic technologies have helped the drone find an increasing military role.      The present day uses of drones are for missions that are considered too dangerous for humans (Arif 2010). Capable of being controlled from anywhere in the world these aerial vehicles can stay airborne for 24 hours and can operate on its own for extended periods.

            UAVs were originally used for aerial reconnaissance until the technology to install air to ground armaments was developed. The first drone attack occurred in 2002, in the nation of Yemen when a UAV was able to hit a moving vehicle (Arif 2010). Five people were killed including the individual that was targeted all with ties to terrorism. The CIA has traditionally directed most of the drone operations outside of war zones while the Department of Defense (DOD) has overseen operations in designated areas of conflict such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya.

            Traditionally, the CIA has managed the bulk of U.S. drone operations outside recognized war zones, such as in Pakistan while the Defense Department (DOD) has commanded operations in established theaters of conflict, such as in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya.  In some instances, the drone operations of both the CIA and DOD are integrated as in the covert drone campaign in Yemen.