List of assassinations by the United States

This is a list of individuals who have been the targets of assassination by the United States. American authorities usually define these killings as 'targeted killings'.

Successful assassinations

Target Position Date Location Country Nationality Method Notes
Isoroku Yamamoto Gensui of the Imperial Japanese Navy, Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet, mastermind of the Attack on Pearl Harbor. 1943-04-18 Bougainville Island Territory of New Guinea Japan Plane shot down. Part of Operation Vengeance.[1]
Viet Cong operatives Various. 1966–1972 Various South Vietnam South Vietnam North Vietnam North Vietnam Torture murder. Part of Phoenix Program.[1]
Qaed Salim Sinan al-Harethi Participant in the USS Cole bombing. 2002-11-03 Sanaa Yemen Yemen Drone strike.
Various Iraqi insurgent groups including Al-Qaeda in Iraq, ex-Ba'athists (FRLs), Special Groups backed by Iran etc. Various, 1000+ HVTs assassinated. 2003–2009 Throughout Iraq Iraq Various Drone/air strikes, sniper operations, bombings, raids etc. Assassination campaign carried out by JSOC and CIA paramilitaries in secret to quell the anti-U.S. insurgency in Iraq.[2][3][4][5]
Haitham al-Yemeni Explosives expert for Al-Qaeda. 2005-05-08 North Waziristan Pakistan Yemen Drone strike.
Abu Hamza Rabia Third highest Al-Qaeda leader. 2005-12-01 North Waziristan Pakistan Egypt Drone strike. [6]
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi Leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq. 2006-06-07 Baqubah, Diyala Governorate Iraq Iraq Jordan Air strike. JSOC air strike.[7]
Abu Laith al-Libi Senior commander of Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. 2008-01-29 North Waziristan Pakistan Libya Libya Drone strike. [6]
Imad Mughniya Deputy commander of Hezbollah and assassin. 2008-02-12 Damascus Syria Lebanon Car bombing. Joint C.I.A.–Mossad operation.
Abu Khabab al-Masri Head of Al-Qaeda chemical weapons programme. 2008-07-28 South Waziristan Pakistan Egypt Drone strike. [6]
Abu Wafa al Saudi Involved in Al-Qaeda logistics. 2008-09-04 Drone strike. [6]
Abu Haris Al-Qaeda commander. 2008-09-08 Drone strike. [6]
Khalid Habib Senior member of Al-Qaeda. 2008-10-16 near Taparghai Pakistan Egypt Drone strike. [6]
Mohammad Hasan Khalil al-Hakim Head of Al-Qaeda propaganda. 2008-10-31 North Waziristan Pakistan Egypt Drone strike. [6]
Abu Zubair al-Masri Explosives expert for Al-Qaeda. 2008-11-22 North Waziristan Pakistan Egypt Drone strike. [6]
Rashid Rauf Senior member of Al-Qaeda. 2008-11-22 North Waziristan Pakistan United Kingdom Drone strike. [6]
Fahid Mohammed Ally Msalam One of the perpetrators of the 1998 United States embassy bombings. 2009-01-01 Pakistan Kenya Drone strike. [6]
Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan One of the perpetrators of the 1998 United States embassy bombings. 2009-01-01 Pakistan Pakistan Kenya Kenya Drone strike. [8]
Baitullah Mehsud Leader of Tehrik-i-Taliban. 2009-08-05 South Waziristan Pakistan Pakistan Drone strike. [6]
Tohir Yoʻldosh Leader of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. 2009-08-27 Zhob, Balochistan Pakistan Uzbekistan Drone strike. [6]
Najmiddin Jalolov Leader of Islamic Jihad Union. 2009-09-14 Pakistan Uzbekistan Drone strike. [6]
Saleh al-Somali Senior member of Al-Qaeda. 2009-12-08 Federally Administered Tribal Areas Pakistan Somalia Drone strike. [6]
Abdullah Said al Libi Senior member of Al-Qaeda. 2009-12-17 North Waziristan Pakistan Libya Libya Drone strike. [6]
Sa'ad bin Laden One of Osama bin Laden's sons.[9] 2009 Pakistan Saudi Arabia Drone strike.
Ahmed Mohammed Hamed Ali Participant in the 1998 United States embassy bombings. 2010 Pakistan Egypt Drone strike.
Qari Mohammad Zarif Leader of Fada'iyan-e Islam. 2010-02-24 Drone strike. [6]
Saeed al-Masri Head of Al-Qaeda finances. 2010-05-21 Boya, North Waziristan Pakistan Egypt Drone strike. [6]
Hamza al-Jufi Leader of Jundallah. 2010-06-29 Drone strike. [6]
Sheikh al-Fatah Leader of Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan. 2010-09-25 Drone strike. [6]
Abu Ibrahim Leader of Fursan-i-Mohammed. 2010-10-06 Drone strike. [6]
Sheik Fateh al Masri Top commander of the Lashkar al Zil.[9] 2010-12 Drone strike.
Abu Zaid al-Iraqi Head of Al-Qaeda finances in Pakistan. 2011-02-20 Drone strike. [6]
Osama bin Laden Leader of Al-Qaeda, mastermind of the September 11 attacks. 2011-05-02 Bilal Town, Abbottabad Pakistan Pakistan Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia United States Navy SEALs raid.
Ilyas Kashmiri Senior member of Al-Qaeda. 2011-06-03 North Waziristan Pakistan Pakistan Pakistan Pakistan Drone strike. [6]
Atiyah Abd al-Rahman Osama bin Laden's Chief of Staff. 2011-08-22 North Waziristan Pakistan Pakistan Libya Libya Drone strike. [6]
Abu Hafs al-Shahri Al-Qaeda commander. 2011-09-11 Drone strike. [6]
Anwar al-Awlaki Member of Al-Qaeda. 2011-09-30 Al Jawf Yemen Yemen United States United States Drone strike.
Abu Miqdad al Masri Member of Al-Qaeda. 2011-10-14 Drone strike. [6]
Aslam Awan Deputy leader of external operations for Al-Qaeda. 2012-01-10 Drone strike. [6]
Bader Mansoor Leader of an Al-Qaeda affiliate. 2012-02-09 Drone strike. [6]
Abu Yahya al-Libi Senior member of Al-Qaeda. 2012-06-04 Mir Ali Pakistan Pakistan Libya Libya Drone strike. [6]
Usman Adil Leader of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. 2012-04-29 Drone strike. [6]
Abdul Shakoor al-Turkistani Turkistan Islamic Party. 2012-08-24 North Waziristan Pakistan China China Drone strike. [6]
Yaseen al Somali Deputy Commander for Al-Qaeda training. 2013-01-08 Drone strike. [6]
Abu Ubaydah Abdullah al-Adam Commander for Al-Qaeda intelligence. 2013-04-14 Drone strike. [6]
Abu Saif al Jaziri Senior commander for training of Al-Qaeda. 2013-07-03 Drone strike. [6]
Ahmed Abdi Godane Leader of Al-Shabaab.[9] 2014-09-01 Hawaay, Lower Shabelle Somalia Somalia Somalia Somalia Drone strike.
Sheikh Imran Ali Siddi Leader of Al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent. 2014-10-11 Drone strike. [6]
Umar Farooq Commander of Al-Qaeda. 2014-12-07 Drone strike. [6]
Adam Yahiye Gadahn Al-Qaeda spokesperson and media advisor. 2015-01-19 Waziristan Pakistan United States United States Drone strike. [6]
Adan Garar Suspected of a role in the Westgate Mall attack.[9] 2015-03 Drone strike.
Ibrahim Sulayman Muhammad Arbaysh Senior member of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. 2015-04-12 Hadhramaut Yemen Yemen Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Drone strike.
Nasser bin Ali al-Ansi Senior member of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. 2015-05-07 Mukalla Yemen Yemen Yemen Yemen Drone strike.
Hamza bin Laden Son of Osama bin Laden, emerging leader of al-Qaeda 2017-2019 Afghanistan Afghanistan Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Details remain scarce.[10]
Qasem Soleimani Commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. 2020-01-03 Baghdad Iraq Iraq Iran Iran Drone strike. Soleimani was the second most powerful person in Iran.[11]
Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis Deputy Chairman of the Popular Mobilization Forces. 2020-01-03 Baghdad Iraq Iraq Iraq Iraq Drone strike. One of Iraq’s most powerful men.[12]
Qasim al-Raymi Leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. 2020-02-07 Wald Rabi' District, Al Bayda Governorate Yemen Yemen Yemen Yemen Drone strike. [13][14]
Maher al-Agal Leader of ISIS in Syria. 2022-07-12 Jindires, Aleppo Governorate Syria Syria Drone strike. [1]
Ayman al-Zawahiri Leader of Al-Qaeda. 2022-07-31 Kabul Afghanistan Afghanistan Egypt Egypt Drone strike.
Usamah al-Muhajir Leader of ISIS forces in East Syria. 2023-07-09 Aleppo Governorate Syria Syria Drone strike. [15][16]
Mushtaq Talib Al-Saeedi (Abu Taqwa) Senior Commander of Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba. 2024-01-04 Baghdad Iraq Iraq Drone strike. [17]
Wissam al-Saadi (Abu Bakr) Senior Commander of Kata'ib Hezbollah. 2024-02-07 Baghdad Iraq Iraq Drone strike. He was in charge of Kata'ib Hezbollah’s operations in Syria.[18][19]
Arkan al-Alawi Senior Kata'ib Hezbollah commander and intelligence operative. 2024-02-07 Baghdad Iraq Iraq Drone strike. [20][21]
Abdallah Makki Muslih al Rifai (Abu Khadijah) ISIS’s chief of global operations, the second in command in Iraq 2025-03-13 Al Anbar Province  Iraq  Iraq Air strike. [22]

Failed attempts

Target Position Date Location Country Nationality Method Notes
Muammar Gaddafi Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution of Libya. 1986-04-15 Bab al-Azizia Libya Libya Libya Libya Air strike. Part of the 1986 United States bombing of Libya.[1]
Saddam Hussein President of Iraq 2003-03-19 Dora Farm Complex, Dora, Baghdad Iraq Iraq Iraq Iraq Air strike. The George W. Bush Presidency authorized the U.S. military to launch "decapitation strikes", prior to the invasion of Iraq.[23][24]
Ahmad Shah Leader of an anti-coalition militia (ACM) 2005-06-27 Sawtalo Sar, Kunar Afghanistan Afghanistan Afghanistan Afghanistan SEAL Team and U.S. Marines raid. Part of Operation Red Wings, Resulted in the death of 19 U.S. soldiers including a 4-man SEAL reconnaissance team.
Abdul Reza Shahlai IRGC-QF Brigadier General 2020-01-03 Sana’a Yemen Yemen Iran Iran Drone strike. U.S. Special Operations Forces tried to liquidate Shahlai as part of an American effort to cripple the leadership of Iran's Quds Force.[25]

Planned but unexecuted assassinations

Target Position Nationality Method Notes
Fidel Castro Prime Minister of Cuba, President of Cuba, and First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party. Cuba Reported by the Church Committee.[1]
Patrice Lumumba Prime Minister of Congo-Leopoldville Congo-Léopoldville Reported by the Church Committee.[1]
Rafael Trujillo President of the Dominican Republic Dominican Republic Reported by the Church Committee.[1]
Ngo Dinh Diem President of South Vietnam South Vietnam Reported by the Church Committee.[1]
René Schneider Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Army Chile Reported by the Church Committee.[1]
Sukarno President of Indonesia Indonesia Reported by the Rockefeller Commission[26]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Herbert, Jr, Riger G. (1992). Bullets with names: The deadly dilemma (PDF). Monterey, California: USN Naval Postgraduate School. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 8, 2021.
  2. ^ Priest, Dana (September 2, 2011). "'Top Secret America': A look at the military's Joint Special Operations Command". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012.
  3. ^ Naylor, Sean (October 4, 2015). "Delta Force secretly killed Iranian agents in Iraq — with IEDs". New York Post.
  4. ^ Kelley, Michael B (May 10, 2013). "US Special Ops Have Become Much, Much Scarier Since 9/11". Business Insider.
  5. ^ "Records Sent to, Sent by, or Received by President George W. Bush regarding Drones, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), and Targeted Killing between January 2004 and January 2009". George W. Bush Presidential Library.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj "The Disposition Matrix". April 25, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  7. ^ Rogers, Paul (December 15, 2014). "Not just the CIA: special forces in Iraq fought a shadow war that led to rise of IS". The Conversation.
  8. ^ "Pakistan al-Qaeda leaders 'dead'". BBC News. January 9, 2009.
  9. ^ a b c d "Prominent terrorist suspects killed in drone strikes". USA Today. March 19, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2020. December 2009: Abdullah Said al Libi, top commander of the Lashkar al Zil, al-Qaeda's shadow army. Killed in Pakistan.
  10. ^ Sarah Westwood; Evan Perez; Ryan Browne (September 14, 2019). "Trump confirms Osama bin Laden's son Hamza killed in US counterterrorism operation". CNN. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  11. ^ Nakhoul, Samia. "U.S. killing of Iran's second most powerful man risks regional conflagration". Reuters.
  12. ^ Bulos, Nabih (January 6, 2020). "The U.S. airstrike that killed a top Iranian general also eliminated another key player". Los Angeles Times.
  13. ^ "Al-Qaeda leader in Yemen killed by US strike". BBC News. February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  14. ^ "Exclusive: Local sources confirm the killing of Qassim Al-Raimi by US strike in Al-Baydha".
  15. ^ "American drone strike kills ISIS leader: US Central Command". New York Post. July 9, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  16. ^ "Islamic State leader killed on motorcycle by US drones Russia 'harassed': Officials". ABC News. July 9, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  17. ^ "Who was 'Abu Taqwa', the Iraqi militia head assassinated by the US?". The New Arab. January 5, 2024.
  18. ^ "Drone strike kills Iran-aligned militia leader in Baghdad". BBC News. February 7, 2024.
  19. ^ "Targeted US Drone Assassination Kills Iran-Backed Militia Leaders in Baghdad". Gulf Insider. February 8, 2024.
  20. ^ "Iraq restates call for removal of US troops following assassination of militia leader". Middle East Eye. February 8, 2024.
  21. ^ "Iraq condemns 'clear-cut assassination' operation after US strike". Al Jazeera. February 8, 2024.
  22. ^ "U.S., Iraqi Forces Assassinate ISIS Second-in-Command". DEFENSE MIRROR. March 15, 2025.
  23. ^ "operation iraqi freedom: A chronology of the six-week invasion of Iraq, drawn from the FRONTLINE documentary". PBS Frontline. Stealth bombs and cruise missiles hit the target in the grounds of the Dora Farm complex where Saddam's daughters live. But the intelligence tip is inaccurate -- Saddam is not there.
  24. ^ "'Decapitation strike' was aimed at Saddam". CNN.
  25. ^ "US tried to kill Iranian leader Abdul Reza Shahlai on same day it assassinated Qassem Soleimani". ABC Australia. January 11, 2020.
  26. ^ Cheney, Richard B. (June 6, 1975). "Intelligence - Report on CIA Assassination Plots (1)" (PDF). Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum. National Archives and Records Administration. p. 9. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
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