US Conducted 500 Drone Attacks, Killing 3,674 “Suspected” Terrorists

MOSCOW, November 24 (Sputnik) –Since the CIA first used a drone in a targeted killing in 2002, the United States has conducted 500 targeted drone strikes, killing an estimated 3,674 people, including 473 civilians, the Atlantic reported.

Drone attacks have become one of the symbols of post 9/11 counter-terrorist strategies. Dropping bombs on suspected terrorists in far-away places, like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Somalia, with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), more commonly referred as drones, while sitting in an office in the United States is a safe way of eliminating enemies, and as the figures reveal the process has become popular among the Pentagon heads.

All 500 US drone strikes in one chart: Pakistan: 388, killing 2,987 Yemen: 94, killing 572 Somalia: 17, killing 155 http://t.co/2w3RcV3WMU

— Micah Zenko (@MicahZenko) 22 ноября 2014

Out of 500 targeted drone attacks, 50 were authorized by President George W. Bush, while his successor Barack Obama has so far given the green light to 450 attacks, the Atlantic said.

While Obama authorized 450 drone strikes (http://t.co/2w3RcV3WMU) US also dropped ~25,000 bombs in Afghanistan during his presidency.

— Micah Zenko (@MicahZenko) 21 ноября 2014

The American government has not been keen on sharing details of all its targeted killings. However, thanks to independent organizations, they have managed to keep a tally of killings from news and some ground reports. Now, the public can now see brutal statistics of the US government, Mashable reported.

According to an article published last month on Foreign Policy, the United States is likely to continue using drones in the Middle East, as the Pentagon was concerned over lack of UAVs flying over Syria.