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Targeted killings refer to the use of lethal force by a subject of international law with the premeditated and deliberate intent to kill individually selected persons who are not in the custody of those responsible for targeting. In this paper, I discuss what I call the “consequentialist critique” of targeted killings, analysing their results. Are these operations counter-productive? Do they constitute a reckless use of force? We distinguish between three types of consequences: strategic (are they effective?), international (do they weaken the principle of sovereignty?), and political (are they a threat to the rule of Law in the States that resort to them?). I conclude by focusing on the position of France within this debate. France is an exception among other countries in that there is an ambiguity on its public discourse on targeted killings, which complicates the collective discussion on their legitimacy.