Experts say US boat strikes are illegal killings. Can they be stopped?

"At least 86 people have been killed in strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats that experts call illegal killings. Since early September, the United States has carried out at least 22 declared military strikes targeting alleged drug-trafficking vessels off the coast of Latin America. Legal experts and international officials say that the attacks, which have killed at least 86 people, are a violation of the law and represent acts of extrajudicial killing."

"But despite what scholars describe as clear-cut illegality, Trump's lethal campaign has shown few signs of slowing down, and critics see an alarming shift towards the use of military force against criminal activities. I was utterly shocked that the United States would do this, Ben Saul, the United Nations special rapporteur on counterterrorism and human rights, told Al Jazeera in a telephone interview."

"Though there may be a broad consensus that Trump is breaking international law, it is unclear what legal or political mechanisms could halt his bombing campaign. Certainly, trying to rein in a superpower like the United States is something very difficult, Saul said. This has to stop from within the US itself. Experts say that oversight could potentially come from a number of sources."

At least 86 people have been killed in at least 22 U.S. military strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels off Latin America since early September. Legal experts and international officials characterize the attacks as violations of international law and extrajudicial killings. The campaign has shown few signs of slowing and has prompted concerns about a shift toward using military force against criminal activity and impunity for powerful states. UN special rapporteur Ben Saul condemned the strikes and said they demonstrate a lack of respect for international law. Potential oversight options include congressional legislation, funding cuts, military refusal of unlawful orders, and limits on intelligence cooperation, but few restraints have been imposed.

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