UN accuses US of violating international law with deadly airstrikes on ships in Caribbean and Pacific

The United Nations said Friday that U.S. airstrikes against suspected drug trafficking ships in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean violate international human rights law and must stop.

In a statement to ABC News, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said the attacks violate international law and called for an investigation into the attacks.

“These attacks – and their growing human cost – are unacceptable. The United States must stop them and take all necessary measures to prevent extrajudicial executions. of people on board these ships, whatever the criminal conduct they are accused of,” Türk said.

“Under international human rights law, the intentional use of lethal force is only permitted as a last resort against persons who pose an imminent threat to life,” he added. “Based on the very scant information publicly provided by US authorities, none of the people in the targeted group “The ships appeared to pose an imminent threat to the lives of others or otherwise justified the use of lethal armed force against them under international law.”

White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told ABC News that President Donald Trump is working to eliminate threats to US security.

“The UN has failed at everything from operating an escalator to ending wars; it is ridiculous that they are now lecturing President Trump and covering up for evil narco-terrorists trying to murder Americans. The president acted under the laws of armed conflict to protect our country from those trying to bring poison to our shores, and he is keeping his promise to take on the cartels and eliminate these national security threats that do not destroy lives,” Kelly said.

Since September, President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have carried out more than a dozen military strikes against shipping in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, arguing they are anti-drug and counter-terrorism measures.

According to US officials, more than 60 people were reportedly killed in the attacks.

In announcing the latest and deadliest attack on Wednesday, Hegseth said the United States “conducted a lethal kinetic attack against another drug trafficking vessel operated by a designated terrorist organization in the Eastern Pacific.”

“Our intelligence knew that this ship, like all others, was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting a known drug trafficking route and was transporting narcotics,” he added.

This is the first time the UN has condemned the attacks.

“The United States must investigate and, if necessary, prosecute and punish individuals accused of serious crimes in accordance with the fundamental rule of law principles of due process and fair trial, which the United States has long upheld,” read a statement from his office.

Ravina Shamdasani, voice of Türk, reflected this sentiment at a UN briefing on Friday.

“These attacks and their increasing human cost are unacceptable. The United States must stop such attacks and take all necessary steps to prevent the extrajudicial killing of people aboard these ships,” he said.