US Drone Strikes Killed 4 Americans Since 2009

US drone strikes have killed 4 Americans since 2009, according to a letter to Congress from Attorney General Eric Holder. The four Americans were killed in the course of the government’s attacks on terrorists.

Holder sent the letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) along with leaders of both parties in both houses of Congress. In it, the Attorney General wrote:

“Since 2009, the United States, in the conduct of U.S. counterterrorism operations against al-Qaeda and its associated forces outside of areas of active hostilities, has specifically targeted and killed on U.S. citizen.”

That man was Anwar al-Aulaqi. However, Holder went on to explain:

“The United States is further aware of three other U.S. citizens who have been killed in such U.S. counterterrorism operations over that same time period: Samir Khan, ‘Abd al-Rahman Anwar al-Aulaki and Jude Mohammed. These individuals were not specifically targeted by the United States.”

While their deaths were reported in the media, it was the first time the US admitted to killing the men in counterterror strikes. The announcement caused an uproar from many, who have said that the four Americans killed by US drone strikes should have received due process, rather than simply an execution.

Abd al-Rahman was Anwar al-Aulaqi’s 16-year-old son. He was killed in Pakistan about two weeks after his father died in a targeted attack in Yemen. Al-Aulaqi was allegedly plotting attacks against the United States.

Khan was responsible for producing Inspire, an English-language magazine for al Qaeda’s affiliate in the Arabian Peninsula. The magazine included bomb-making instructions. He was killed alongside Anwar in Yemen.

Meanwhile, Mohammed, who was once on the FBI’s Most Wanted list, was indicted in July 2009 as part of a terror ring based in North Carolina. He was charged with plotting to murder, kidnap, or maim persons overseas, along with providing material support to terrorists. But he was never arrested.

The Justice Department did not say when or where Mohammed was killed. The announcement that 4 Americans were killed by US drone strikes comes just one day before President Obama is scheduled to deliver long-promised remarks at National Defense University. He is expected to talk in length about the policy and legal rationale for drone strikes and other actions against al Qaeda and its affiliates.

[Image via U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Christopher Elmini]