Targeted killing

Targeted killing is a form of assassination. The term is often used when it is done by governments, particularly that of the United States or its allies. It is a type of execution that is done without a trial and happens sometimes on a battlefield^[1][2][3][4] and sometimes in their family homes.

Modern targeted killings are frequently performed using drones like the MQ-9 Reaper, named after the grim reaper.

Many people in the Western world consider it illegal for governments to assassinate people. Some people who lead militaries or study them^[5] describe targeted killing as legitimate within the context of "self-defense" when it is used against people they classify as "terrorists" or people from armed groups that are smaller or less well-armed than the government's own military but are still likely to win. The government consifders unmanned combat aerial vehicles (drones) to be more humane and more accurate than human assassins killing in person.^[6][7]

People who study war disagree with one another about whether target killings actually stop terrorism.^{[8][9][10][11][12][13]}

Assassinations by the United States

• 
  Operation Condor participants.

    active members

    collaborators
• 
  The CIA recruited Sam Giancana (pictured), Santo Trafficante, and other mobsters to assassinate Fidel Castro.^[14]
• 
  Graph of average casualties in drone strikes ordered by the United States in Yemen, 2002–2017.^[15]
• 
  John O. Brennan was the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and the head of the team that gave President Barack Obama advice on how to stop terrorism.
• 
  Minneapolis anti-war protest: "Stop Killer Drones,"' 5 May 2013.

Assassinations by governments in Asia

Use by Iran

Mohammad-Reza Kolahi was assassinated in the Netherlands in 2015

Main articles: List of Iranian assassinations and Chain murders of Iran

Use by Saudi Arabia

Main article: Tiger Squad

Use by Israel

Main article: Israeli targeted killings

Memorial to the assassinated Iranian scientists

Funeral of Iranian Major General Hassan Shateri, who was assassinated in Syria in February 2013

Use by North Korea

Main article: Assassination of Kim Jong-nam