Drones
Monday, April 27, 2015 - 06:54
President Barack Obama tightened rules for the U.S. drone program in 2013, but he secretly approved a waiver giving the Central Intelligence Agency more flexibility in Pakistan than anywhere else to strike suspected militants, according to current and former U.S. officials. Last week, the U.S. officials disclosed that two Western hostages, U.S. and Italian aid workers Warren Weinstein and Giovanni Lo Porto, were killed on Jan. 15 by a U.S. drone strike aimed at al Qaeda militants in Pakistan. If the exemption had not been in place for Pakistan, the CIA might have been required to gather more intelligence before that strike.
Friday, April 24, 2015 - 06:35
The Obama administration said Thursday that two American Qaeda operatives killed in Pakistan in January had not been “specifically targeted,” and officials added that the Central Intelligence Agency had no idea the two men were hiding in compounds under surveillance by armed drones when orders were given to carry out the strikes.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015 - 07:12
In 2013, President Obama promised that before any U.S. drone strike, “there must be near-certainty that no civilians will be killed or injured.” Death by Drone questions whether he has kept that promise. The report casts serious doubt on whether the United States’ “near-certainty” standard is being met on the ground, and whether the U.S. is complying with international law.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015 - 13:44
In 2013, President Obama promised that before any U.S. drone strike, “there must be near-certainty that no civilians will be killed or injured.” Death by Drone questions whether he has kept that promise.
Friday, April 10, 2015 - 06:35
A United Nations panel on technological development has called for peacekeeping missions to be equipped with unmanned drones to survey conflict zones. A purportedly crucial tool steeped in controversy, UAVs are set to become a peacekeeping staple.
Monday, April 6, 2015 - 04:54
Panama's government said Friday that it is banning drones from national airspace immediately before, during and after next week's Summit of the Americas.
Thursday, March 19, 2015 - 06:39
Outlawed militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed on Thursday, that the group’s senior commander, Khawrey Mehsud, was killed in a US drone strike.
Friday, March 13, 2015 - 06:40
A U.S. drone strike in Somalia on Thursday is believed to have killed a senior member of the al-Shabab extremist group who allegedly helped plan the 2013 Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi, officials said.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - 07:28
Members of Congress are pushing the Obama administration to embrace a plan to lend older-model, surplus drones to Jordan for the fight against the Islamic State extremist group. In a Republican-led letter to the White House, 23 House members said Monday that Jordan should be allowed to borrow U.S. Air Force-owned MQ-1 Predator drones.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015 - 06:34
Despite the controversy that has surrounded them, U.S. drone strikes in Afghanistan and across the border in the Pakistani tribal belt have been crucial in weakening militant groups and reducing their safe havens in the more inaccessible parts of the region, Afghan security officials have said.