The United Nations accused the United States of violating international human rights law with airstrikes on suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. Over 60 people have reportedly died in the strikes, according to U.S. officials.
Human Rights Concerns
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called the attacks “unacceptable” and urged the U.S. to halt them immediately. He emphasized that lethal force is only lawful as a last resort against individuals posing an imminent threat to life, and said publicly available information does not show such a threat from those targeted.
Latest Strikes and U.S. Defense
Since September, President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have authorized over a dozen strikes, claiming they target narcotics and terrorist operations. The most recent attack in the Eastern Pacific killed six people. Hegseth described the vessels as “operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization” and transporting illicit drugs along known trafficking routes.
U.S. Pushback
White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly defended the strikes, stating that President Trump acted to protect national security and combat drug cartels. She dismissed the U.N.’s criticism as unfairly siding with criminal groups.
Calls for Legal Accountability
The U.N. urged the U.S. to investigate and, if necessary, prosecute individuals accused of crimes under due process and fair trial standards. A U.N. spokeswoman, Ravina Shamdasani, said the mounting human cost of the strikes is unacceptable and called for measures to prevent further extrajudicial killings.
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