International Law Challenges On Drones

USA’s target killing policy with drone strikes in Pakistan and Yemen has triggered global controversy. Drones refers to tele-operated unmanned aerial vehicle, which is the state-of-art weaponry purchased and equipped worldwide. Drone strikes challenges international humanitarian law in three aspects:the ambiguous existence of armed conflict, the subtle legal status of drone pilots, together with the legality of drones and drone operating system. Moreover, as part of the target killing policy, drone strikes may be violating right to life, right to fair trial and rules concerning anti-assassination. Lastly, USA’s refusal to release the casualty may go against its international obligation. From all these aspects, this article aims to explore the international rules to analysis the legality of American drone strikes in the above areas.