Legality Over Drone Attacks from the Facet of International Humanitarian Law

Abstract

“My concern is that these drones, these predators, are being operated in a framework which may well violate international humanitarian law and international human rights law.” Philip Alston.The thespian rise in the exercise of stealth technology by developed states has raised a pivotal issue over the spirit of humanitarian law. There is no second thought about the illegality over such a weapon of mass destruction. On the other hand the contention is pretty clear; accuracy and casualties. They claim that drones are meant to accomplish mission to the level of accuracy without causing any collateral damage. They refer such attacks as target killing. In the discourse of International humanitarian law, the lopsidedness of actors in conflict is crystal clear. In modern contexts of warfare, this imbalance raises a major quandary of shifting hostilities. The Asymmetric Warfare elevated the snag to apply the principle of distinction. This brief study objects to discuss the legality over the target killing by drone attacks on the altar of IHL. It is not only which International Humanitarian law but also the International Human Rights law is violated, when drones the brings terror over ground. With development of technology, the shape and structure of the warfare has changed. The asymmetric warfare has led to shifting of hostilities. On one hand, the belligerents attacks into heart of cities surrounded by innocent civilians while on other, in retaliation the powerful states attacks via drones to kill the belligerents; during the ops the innocent civilians dies again. Hence, in both situations, civilians turn out to be the ultimate victims of collateral damage. This brief study will portray the legality of drone attacks from humanitarian perspective.