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The Inquiry: Do Drone Strikes Work?

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Do Drone Strikes Work?

29/09/2015 GMT

BBC World Service - The Inquiry, Do Drone Strikes Work?

The impact of drones, America’s counter-terrorism weapon of choice

Drone strikes can kill militants from a distance without putting military personnel in harm’s way. But critics question how far they bolster wider attempts to defeat terrorism.

The United States, UK, Israel and now Pakistan all use drone strikes to kill. In September a general in the Pakistani army announced their first ever use of an armed drone. It was directed at a terrorist compound, he said, and killed three. Meanwhile the US is thought to have launched a secret drone campaign to kill so-called Islamic State fighters in Syria. 

Armed drones are the counter-terrorism weapon of choice, capable of killing militants from a distance and without putting military personnel in harm’s way. But critics question how far they bolster wider attempts to defeat terrorism. So, do drone strikes work?

(Photo: Reaper flies without pilot. Credit: Getty Images)

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