Targeted killing

Abstract

Targeted killing is one of the most controversial tactics of modern warfare. Much has been written in ethical and legal journals on the subject, particularly as it is employed by Israel and the United States in their conflicts with non-state actors and terrorist organisations. Critics often refer to the tactic as 'assassination' or 'extra-judicial execution'. It is impossible to cover all the important positions and arguments for and against those views in this short chapter. Instead, I will merely highlight a few of the most central issues that must be considered in an ethical analysis of targeted killing in bello. Show more