High-value target

Overview

In United States military terminology, high-value target (HVT) is the term used to describe a person or resource which an enemy commander can least afford to lose. The term has been widely used in the news media for Osama bin Laden and high-ranking officers of al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations. Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was known as High-Value Target Number One by the United States military before his capture. The term was also used to refer to former Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, who was captured as part of Operation Absolute Resolve.