US strikes on alleged drug boats could be crimes against humanity, says UN
Ben Saul said 68 strikes killed at least 223 people and that drug trafficking does not justify lethal force under international law.
- On Monday, UN Special Rapporteur Ben Saul released a briefing note warning that US military strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific may constitute "crimes against humanity," citing 68 attacks that killed 223 people since September 2025.
- Operation Southern Spear, initiated in September 2025, targets vessels suspected of trafficking narcotics and designated terrorist groups. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth previously argued the campaign removes "narco-terrorists from our hemisphere" to protect the United States.
- The US military conducted its 69th strike on Saturday, killing four people and raising the death toll to at least 231. Legal analyst Ryan Goodman criticized the use of "double tap" strikes, which he said killed civilians.
- UN experts argue that organized criminal activity does not authorize lethal military force, contradicting the administration's self-defense rationale. The dispute centers on whether human rights standards govern maritime enforcement operations.
- A mid-2026 Drug Enforcement Administration assessment found the campaign failed to reduce cocaine supply or prices. Gen. Francis Donovan admitted in March that boat strikes are "probably not the most effective" tool for limiting drug flows.
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58 Articles
A new UN report concludes that US bombings of suspected drug traffickers violate international law and likely constitute crimes against humanity – even if there were drugs on board.
Top UN Official Says US Boat Strikes Are Illegal & May Amount to Crimes Against Humanity
Related posts: 100+ US-Based Legal Scholars Sign Letter Claiming US-Israeli Strikes on Iran Breach International Law & Could Amount to War Crimes Mali, Burkina Faso, & Niger Announce Plans to Withdraw from International Criminal Court Top UN Official Calls for Investigation Into US Strikes on Alleged Narco Boats in Caribbean & Pacific US Conducts Another Strike Targeting Suspected Drug-Smuggling Boat
The UN report also questions the legality of the kidnapping of Nicolas Maduro - The US has not provided evidence for its claims - The first lawsuit by families of victims The post UN: US strikes on ships in the Caribbean and the Pacific may be "crimes against humanity" appeared first on in.gr.
UN report urges US administration to review its rules
US strikes on suspected drug boats could amount to crimes against humanity, warns US expert
UN Special Rapporteur Ben Saul says there are reasonable grounds to question the legality of the strikes, while also raising concerns over alleged covert operations and foreign drone flights in Mexico.
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