Abstract/Summary

This article examines four reports on drone operations released in October 2013: 1) The Heyns UN Special Rapporteur report; 2) the Emmerson UN Special Rapporteur report; 3) the Human Rights Watch report; and 4) the Amnesty International report. It concludes that although the author does not necessarily agree with all conclusions reached in the four reports, they nevertheless represent a sea change in the nature of reports and commentary on drone operations. In particular, the four reports adopt the traditional approach to analyzing attacks under international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law.