Drone warfare ethics and just war considerations (2001–present)

1. 9/11 attacks intensify debates on just war

   Sep 11, 2001Labels: 9 11, Jus ad

   • Britannica

2. 2001 AUMF provides broad U.S. force authority

   Sep 18, 2001Labels: 2001 AUMF, U S

   • Congress gov
   • Britannica

3. First operational Hellfire strike from a Predator

   Oct 7, 2001Labels: MQ-1 Predator, Hellfire missile

   • Smithsonian

4. First U.S. drone strike outside a conventional battlefield

   Nov 3, 2002Labels: CIA Predator, Yemen strike

   • BBC
   • CFR

5. Israeli Supreme Court sets targeted killing framework

   Dec 14, 2006Labels: Israeli Supreme, targeted killing

   • UNISPAL

6. ICRC guidance clarifies “direct participation” in hostilities

   Feb 26, 2009Labels: ICRC guidance, direct participation

   • Cambridge
   • ICRC Casebook

7. UN report warns of accountability gaps in targeted killings

   Jun 1, 2010Labels: UN Special, accountability report

   • ACLU Doc

8. U.S. drone strike kills U.S. citizen Anwar al-Awlaki

   Sep 30, 2011Labels: Anwar al-Awlaki, Yemen strike

   • NPR
   • Airwars

9. Leaked DOJ white paper outlines legal test for killing citizens

   Feb 4, 2013Labels: DOJ white, legal test

   • NYT
   • Wiki Summary

10. Obama speech and Presidential Policy Guidance tighten standards

    May 23, 2013Labels: Obama speech, Presidential Policy

    • Guardian
    • HRW

11. Executive Order 13732 sets U.S. civilian-casualty policy

    Jul 1, 2016Labels: Executive Order, U S

    • FAS

12. Trump revokes public reporting requirement for strike casualties

    Mar 6, 2019Labels: Trump executive, reporting requirement

    • WH Archives

13. Kabul drone strike kills 10 civilians during U.S. withdrawal

    Aug 29, 2021Labels: Kabul strike, civilian deaths

    • TIME
    • Axios

14. DoD releases Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan

    Aug 25, 2022Labels: DoD CHMR-AP, Civilian Harm

    • DoD Release
    • Lieber Institute

15. Debate shifts to institutionalizing (or rolling back) safeguards

    Mar 4, 2025Labels: safeguards debate, Pentagon policy

    • Washington Post