Rights Groups Question U.S. Drone Strikes

October 26, 2013

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks with Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during their meeting at the White House.

From VOA Learning English, this is In the News.

This week, two human rights groups accused the United States of killing more civilians in drone strikes than American officials say. The groups say many of the attacks appeared to be illegal under international law.

Human Rights Watch investigated six drone strikes in Yemen since 2009. It found that at least 57 civilians died in the attacks. Letta Tayler studies terrorist acts and anti-terrorism efforts for the group.

“Two of the six cases that we examined in my report show that the U.S. indiscriminately killed civilians. This is a clear violation of international law.”

The report says some drone strikes violated the rules set by President Obama to justify such attacks. The president has said the unmanned aircraft can be used when responding to an immediate threat to the United States. He also said they can be used when there is no hope of capturing a targeted terrorist, and “near certainty” that civilians will not be harmed.

At the White House, Press Secretary Jay Carney rejected accusations that drone strikes violated international law.

“To the extent these reports claim that the U.S. has acted contrary to international law, we would strongly disagree. The administration has repeatedly emphasized the extraordinary care that we take to make sure counterterrorism actions are in accordance with all applicable law.”