UN considers US strikes on ships in the Caribbean a crime against humanity

The UN has concluded that recent US airstrikes on vessels in South American waters allegedly carrying drugs violated international law and could amount to crimes against humanity. This is reported by the BBC with reference to the report of the special rapporteur on the protection of human rights in the fight against terrorism Ben Saul.

Since September last year, the United States has carried out at least 68 strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific, killing more than 220 people. Even if the strikes were targeted by members of recognized terrorist groups, they did not carry out an armed attack directly against the United States. According to the special rapporteur, there are reasons to believe that these strikes are extrajudicial executions and can qualify as crimes against humanity.

The strikes were carried out as part of the military operation “Southern spear”, initiated by US President Donald Trump. It was launched last November to protect Americans from drug trafficking. However, it was later reported that the operation did not reduce the supply of cocaine to the United States.

Ekaterina Naumova