According to a recent report published by the Washington Post, US officials say CIA Director David Petraeus has requested permission from the White House to carry out “signature strikes” against targets, based on intelligence suggesting suspicious behavior.
The report comes as the number of US assassination drone strikes in Yemen has already hit a record.
The United States has carried out at least eight terror drone attacks in Yemen over the past four months, the report says.
Meanwhile, some US officials have expressed concerns over the possible increase in the frequency of such attacks in Yemen.
Supporters of the recent plan claim the targeted drone attacks in Yemen would minimize the risk of civilian casualties. However, US assassination drone strikes killed at least 64 people, mainly civilians, in southern Yemen over a period of only three days in March.
The United Nations has condemned the US military over using drones for “targeted killings.”
—Agencies