This book conducts an in‎-depth analysis into the lawfulness of State‎-sponsored targeted killings under international human rights and humanitarian law‎.‎ It also addresses the relevance of the law of inter‎-state force to targeted killings‎,‎ and the interrelation of the various normative frameworks which may simultaneously apply to operations involving the intentional use of lethal force‎.‎ Through a comprehensive analysis of treaties‎,‎ custom‎,‎ and general principles of law in light of jurisprudence‎,‎ doctrine‎,‎ and travaux preparatoires the author demonstrates that contemporary international law provides two distinct normative paradigms which govern the use of lethal force in law enforcement and in the conduct of hostilities‎.‎ Based on the resulting normative paradigms‎,‎ the author shows in what circumstances targeted killings may be considered as internationally lawful‎.‎ The practical relevance of the various conditions and modalities is illustrated by reference to concrete examples of targeted killing from recent State practice‎.‎In essence the book a‎.‎‎.‎‎.‎