JEAIL > Volume 17(1); 2024 > Regional Focus & Controversies
Research Paper
Published online: May 30, 2024
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14330/jeail.2024.17.1.09

Can International Humanitarian Law Regulate Recent Drone Strikes?: A Case Study

Nehaluddin Ahmad & Faizah Rahim & Nurulqayyimah Aziz
University Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA)
Faculty of Law, Simpang 347, Jalan Pasar Gadong, Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University (UNISSA), Brunei Darussalam.
Corresponding Author: ahmadnehal@yahoo.com

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This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/liceInha University Law School, 100 Inharo, Michuhol-gu, Incheon 22212 Korea. / nses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract
The deployment of drones for targeted killings in recent years has sparked intense debates regarding the ethical and legal implications of their deployment in contemporary conflicts. Through an examination of the complexities surrounding the application of fundamental international humanitarian law (IHL) principles - such as differentiating targets and ensuring a proportionate response – and their deployment, the article aims to illuminate the potential legal ramifications of using drones in targeted killing. It also highlights challenges arising from the ambiguous distinction between combatants and non-combatants, compounded by the remote nature of drone missions. The inclusion of a few relevant case studies enhances the analysis, providing practical insights into the nuanced legal landscape and emphasising the pressing need for a comprehensive legal framework tailored to regulate drone usage. This paper stresses the immediate requirement for an effective regulatory structure to ensure adherence to IHL, thereby upholding humanistic principles and reducing the human toll of conflicts.

Keywords : Drones, Targeted Killing, International Humanitarian Law, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Remote Warfare, Drone Warfare

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