Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has made a strong appeal to the Pentagon, urging it to cease its practice of conducting strikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking. Türk’s demand aims to prevent what he describes as “extrajudicial killings.”

During a United Nations briefing on Friday, Ravina Shamdasani, speaking on behalf of Türk, expressed deep concern over these military actions. “These attacks and their escalating human toll are indefensible,” she stated. Shamdasani emphasized the necessity for the U.S. to stop such operations and to implement all necessary measures to avoid the extrajudicial killing of individuals on these boats. She further called for “prompt, independent, and transparent investigations” into the actions of the U.S. government, marking what is reportedly the first condemnation of this nature from a UN body.

The U.S. military has reportedly conducted at least 14 strikes since September, targeting boats suspected of drug trafficking in regions like the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific Ocean. These actions have sparked criticism from several neighboring countries, including Venezuela.

In a recent announcement, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the latest strike, which occurred on Wednesday. He reported that the operation resulted in the deaths of four individuals identified as “narco-terrorists” linked to a designated terrorist organization. However, Hegseth did not disclose the specific organization involved, a detail he has withheld in several previous instances.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the most recent strike on Wednesday, which he said killed four “narco-terrorists” on a boat operated by a designated terrorist organization (DTO). He did not specify which organization had operated the boat, which he has also not done for several previous strikes. 

The Trump administration has also so far not provided evidence of its claims that the boats are smuggling drugs. The administration estimates their operations have so far killed 61 people. 

Legal experts and politicians on both sides of the aisle have sounded the alarm on the legality of the strikes. The Trump administration has generally dismissed these concerns, but to provide legal rationale for the strikes, the White House earlier this month declared the U.S. in “non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels it deems as terrorist groups. 

Republicans and Democrats have criticized the administration for the strikes, even introducing a resolution that challenged the Trump administration’s authority to carry out its hits against the boats. Though the resolution failed, it drew bipartisan support. Senate Democrats continue to question the boat strikes’ adherence to international law. 

Members of both parties also expressed frustration with the Trump administration’s explanations of the boat strikes during a Thursday briefing. 

Türk echoed these concerns in his Friday statement, saying the strikes were taking place “outside the context” of active hostilities or armed conflict. Shamdasani also said Türk believed the strikes “violate international human rights law.”

Fights against illicit drug-enforcement trafficking had “careful limits” on lethal force, which should only be used as a last resort against someone posing “an imminent threat to life,” Shamdasani said on Türk’s behalf. “Otherwise, it would amount to a violation of the right of life and constitute extrajudicial killings.”