The west has undertaken lots of sorties, missions etc where the target is within civilian areas, we have the tech and the ability to take out individual people or buildings and minimise casualties of non combatents.
When the Seal Team, found bin laden, they did so with a team on the ground, going in taking HIM out. I am sure the report said there were others in the building.
So good intel and the right approach CAN minimise casualties other than the person you either want to capture or kill.