US strikes on alleged drug boats could be crimes against humanity, says UN

A UN report has concluded that recent US airstrikes on suspected drug trafficking vessels violated international law and may amount to crimes against humanity. According to Special Rapporteur Ben Saul, there have been at least 68 such US strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific since September last year, resulting in over 220 fatalities.

Despite targeting individuals linked to designated terrorist groups, Saul stated that none of these targets had attacked the United States, which would otherwise trigger a right to self-defense under international law. The report was released two days after the US military announced the killing of four individuals in a strike on a vessel in the Caribbean, claiming that the targets were "narco-terrorists."

However, Saul argued that these attacks amount to "serial extrajudicial killings in violation of the right to life" and are unjustified under various legal frameworks. The operation, known as "Southern Spear," began in early September and aims to remove "narco-terrorists" from the hemisphere and secure the US from drugs, though the US military has not provided conclusive evidence of the targeted vessels' involvement in trafficking.

Critics, including Latin American leaders and Colombian President Gustavo Petro, have questioned the legality of the strikes, with Petro standing down after a Trump-backed candidate won the presidency.