The UN's human rights chief has condemned US military strikes on vessels allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean and Pacific, saying the lethal attacks violate international law and amount to 'extrajudicial killing.'
Volker Türk said on Friday that more than 60 people have reportedly been killed in US strikes since early September.
Calling the attacks 'unacceptable', he said Washington must halt them immediately and conduct prompt, independent and transparent investigations.
President Donald Trump has said the strikes are necessary to stem the flow of drugs into the US and he has the legal authority to continue bombing boats in international waters.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has stated that strikes are being executed on vessels operated by drug-trafficking groups designated as terrorist organizations by the US, saying this week that 'the Western Hemisphere is no longer a safe haven for narco-terrorists bringing drugs to our shores to poison Americans.'
Türk, while acknowledging the challenges of tackling drug trafficking, declared that the circumstances for the deadly strikes 'find no justification in international law.'
According to him, 'Countering the serious issue of illicit trafficking of drugs across international borders is a law-enforcement matter, governed by the careful limits on lethal force set out in international human rights law.'
He emphasized that the intentional use of lethal force 'is only permissible as a last resort against individuals who pose an imminent threat to life,' adding that based on scant information from US authorities, none of the individuals on the targeted boats seemed to pose such a threat.
Türk called on the US to utilize law enforcement methods including intercepting boats and detaining suspects, advocating for the prosecution of individuals if necessary.
Most strikes have occurred off the coast of South America in the Caribbean, although strikes in the Pacific last week resulted in at least 18 fatalities, according to Hegseth.
The US has reinforced its military presence with troops, aircraft, and naval vessels; last week, it deployed the USS Gerald R Ford to the region.
These strikes have attracted widespread condemnation, raising legal concerns. Members of the US Congress from both parties have expressed apprehension and questioned the president's authority to order such actions.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has voiced disapproval of the attacks and called for discussions with the US envoy, insisting on the necessity for all international treaties to be upheld.
The US actions have additionally escalated tensions with Colombia and Venezuela. The US has sanctioned Colombian President Gustavo Petro for his alleged failure to combat drug trafficking, while Petro claims he has been engaged in this fight for decades.
Trump has accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of operating a drug-trafficking organization, a claim Maduro denies. Venezuela's attorney general has alleged that the US's intentions are focused on seizing the country's natural resources such as gold, oil, and copper.
The US does not recognize Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate leader following a widely disputed election in 2024.
