ABSTRACT
This chapter explains how armed drones targeting suspected terrorists outside of traditional war zones are helping to change the character of warfare while at the same time raising questions about the legality of drone strikes conducted far from recognized battlefields. It reviews how three different American presidents relied on armed drones to strike at hard-to-reach targets. Using data from New America, it shows how drone strikes peaked in Pakistan in 2010 during the Obama administration and peaked in Somalia in 2019 under the Trump administration. The data also demonstrates that drone strikes have been more effective over time at attempting to minimize civilian casualties.
