UN human rights chief says US strikes on alleged drug boats unacceptable'

"The United Nations human rights chief has called for an investigation into United States military strikes against boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean allegedly carrying illegal drugs from South America, saying the attacks are unacceptable and must stop. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk voiced the first outright condemnation of US strikes from a UN organisation in a statement on Friday."

"These attacks and their mounting human cost are unacceptable, Turk said. The US must halt such attacks and take all measures necessary to prevent the extrajudicial killing of people aboard these boats, whatever the criminal conduct alleged against them. Speaking on Turk's behalf at a regular UN briefing, spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said the top UN official believed Washington's conduct violated international human rights law and called for prompt, independent, and transparent investigations."

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called for an investigation into United States military strikes against boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean allegedly carrying illegal drugs from South America. Turk described the attacks and their mounting human cost as unacceptable and urged the US to halt such strikes and prevent extrajudicial killings. A UN spokesperson said Washington's conduct likely violated international human rights law and demanded prompt, independent, and transparent investigations. The US framed the strikes as necessary to stem drug flows, while increased military presence and regional tensions have raised concerns about ulterior motives. International norms limit intentional lethal force to last-resort law-enforcement situations.

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