After Israel, the UN Takes on the US: New Charges Loom for Trump

UN Special Rapporteur Ben Saul stated that US military strikes against drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean could qualify as crimes against humanity. At least 68 strikes have been carried out since September 2025, resulting in 223 deaths. The most recent strike occurred on September 19.

UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in counter-terrorism, Ben Saul, published a note questioning the legality of US military actions. According to his data, since September 2025, the US has carried out at least 68 strikes against vessels outside territorial waters, resulting in 223 deaths. Saul argues that even if those on board belonged to organizations recognized by Washington as terrorist, it does not justify the use of lethal force. The most recent strike occurred on September 19 in the Caribbean Sea; the US Southern Command stated that intelligence confirmed the vessel's involvement in drug trafficking, and four people on board were killed. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously explained that Operation Southern Spear aims to counter narco-terrorist organizations. The special rapporteur's findings are not a judicial decision.