Khamenei Killing Tests the Legal Boundaries of War Assassination
TL;DR
International law generally treats a civilian head of state who commands a country's armed forces as a legitimate military target in war, so the strike that killed Iran's Supreme Leader is unlikely illegal, but assassinations remain politically risky, with potential unintended consequences and greater feasibility due to drones and AI; the piece also notes US bans on assassination and discusses historical precedents and future implications.
- World leaders are almost never killed in war. Why did it happen to Iran’s supreme leader? vox.com
- Can Trump Legally Kill Iran’s Leader? The New York Times
- Opinion | Khamenei’s Unforced Errors Proved Fatal WSJ
- Intelligence assessment warns of Iranian attacks on US following Khamenei's death Reuters
- A look at some of the contenders to be Iran’s supreme leader after the killing of Khamenei AP News
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