Killing suspected drug traffickers who pose no threat of causing imminent serious injury to others would be murder under U.S. and international law. However, the United States has framed the attacks as a war with drug cartels, calling them armed groups.
The administration said its attacks comply with international rules known as the law of war or the law of armed conflict. Those international laws require the United States to distinguish between civilians and combatants, avoid attacks that cause disproportionate civilian harm, limit force to legitimate military objectives and avoid unnecessary suffering.
This is such a stupid argument, and really shouldn’t be given serious consideration. Simply claiming that someone belongs to an “armed group”, does not mean you treat them as if they are “armed at all times”. If the individual you are standing in front of poses no threat to you, then you cannot simply murder them, no matter who they work for.
This is law and order 101. Due process needs to be respected. If it isn’t, then you are also guilty of breaking the law. That goes for criminal organizations as well as enemy combatants under military law.