UN Human Rights Chief Urges Pentagon to Cease Attacks on Suspected Drug Traffickers
Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has urged the Pentagon to stop its attacks on ships believed to be involved in drug trafficking, stating that these actions could lead to “extrajudicial killings.”
During a UN briefing on Friday, Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the Turkish Prime Minister, condemned the airstrikes. She described the human toll as “unacceptable” and emphasized that the United States must halt these operations and take steps to prevent further loss of life. Furthermore, Shamdasani called for a “prompt, independent, and transparent investigation” into the US’s military actions, marking it as a notable criticism from a UN agency.
Since early September, the US military has conducted at least 14 attacks against vessels suspected of drug trafficking towards the US. These strikes, which have occurred primarily in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific regions, have sparked strong backlash from neighboring countries, notably Venezuela.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the most recent attack on Wednesday, claiming it resulted in the deaths of four “narco-terrorists” on a vessel linked to a designated terrorist group. Details on this organization were not disclosed, differing from previous attacks.
To date, the Trump administration has not provided substantial evidence to support its claims regarding the ships’ involvement in drug smuggling. They have estimated approximately 61 fatalities resulting from this operation.
Concerns about the legality of these strikes have been voiced by legal experts and lawmakers across party lines. Although the Trump administration appears to have brushed off these worries, the White House recently claimed that the situation constituted a “non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels classified as terrorist groups.
Both Republicans and Democrats have expressed discontent with the administration’s approach to these strikes, even proposing a resolution to challenge its authority to conduct such operations. This resolution, while unsuccessful, received bipartisan backing, with Senate Democrats raising ongoing questions regarding the strikes’ alignment with international law.
At a briefing on Thursday, lawmakers from both parties showed frustration with the Trump administration’s explanations regarding the incidents involving the ships.
Reiterating these concerns on Friday, Turkey’s Prime Minister stated that these strikes were occurring “outside the context” of any active hostilities. Shamdasani added that the Turkish President views the airstrikes as a breach of international human rights law.
Shamdasani emphasized the idea of “prudent limits” concerning the use of lethal force in combating illegal drug trafficking, asserting that it should only be employed as a last resort against those posing an “immediate threat to life.” Failing this principle could lead to violations of the right to life, constituting extrajudicial killings, on behalf of Türk.
