Targeted Killings by Drones and Legality of Deployment of CIA Operatives

Abstract

Since October 2001, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) employed a predator drone armed with missiles to carry out an operation in Afghanistan that targeted suspected al-Qaeda members. These missile attacks continued to hit targets in Yemen, Afghanistan, and the Pakistani territory bordering Afghanistan. It has been proven that missile-equipped drones are uncertain when used in covert operations. Drone strikes raise legal questions under International Law, Human Rights Law (HRL) and International Humanitarian Law (IHL). IHL prohibits civilian organisations from participating in direct hostilities unless the government notifies them of their incorporation into the regular armed forces. The explanation for why the CIA does not have the authorisation to carry out drone strikes is given in the article. The deployment of the CIA rather than regular armed forces is a violation of both accepted norms of war and HRL regulations.