Fact check: Which countries were targeted by Obama's drone strikes in the Middle East?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, Obama's drone strikes primarily targeted three countries in the Middle East and surrounding regions: Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen ^[1]. The scope of these operations was substantial, with sources reporting 563 strikes during Obama's two terms ^[1], while another source cites 540 drone strikes ^[2].

The human cost was significant, with civilian casualties ranging from 384-807 deaths according to multiple sources ^[1], while another analysis reports 324 civilian deaths out of an estimated 3,797 total fatalities ^[2]. Notably, Afghanistan was also targeted but strikes there were not included in the main tallies because they occurred in an active battlefield ^[1].

The program also resulted in the deaths of four American citizens, three of whom were not specifically targeted, including Anwar Awlaki, Samir Khan, Abdulrahman Awlaki, and Jude Kenan Mohammad ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several crucial pieces of context that emerge from the analyses:

• Scale comparison: Obama conducted ten times more drone strikes than his predecessor Bush ^[1], indicating a massive expansion of the program
• Geographic scope: While the question asks about "Middle East" countries, the strikes actually extended beyond traditional Middle East boundaries to include Somalia in East Africa ^[1]
• Legal and ethical controversies: The program involved killing American citizens without due process ^[3], raising constitutional concerns
• Acknowledgment of civilian casualties: Obama eventually acknowledged that "civilians were killed that shouldn't have been" and claimed his administration worked to prevent such deaths ^[4]
• Differential treatment of victims: The administration apologized for the deaths of two Western civilians (Warren Weinstein and Giovanni Lo Porto) but provided no similar acknowledgment or compensation for non-Western civilian victims ^[5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question, while factually answerable, contains potential framing issues:

• Geographic limitation: By focusing only on "Middle East" countries, the question may inadvertently exclude Somalia, which was a major target but is geographically in East Africa rather than the traditional Middle East
• Scope omission: The question doesn't acknowledge that Afghanistan was also targeted ^[1], though it's often considered part of South/Central Asia rather than the Middle East
• Context absence: The question lacks acknowledgment of the controversial nature of these operations, including civilian casualties and the killing of American citizens without trial, which organizations like the ACLU have criticized ^[5]

The question appears neutral but may benefit those who prefer to discuss the drone program in narrow geographic terms rather than addressing its broader scope and humanitarian impact.