Türk described the attacks as violations of international human rights law.

In a statement released on Friday, Türk said the operations, which have reportedly killed more than 60 people since early September, “find no justification in international law” and must stop immediately.

He urged Washington to halt what he called “unacceptable” actions and to prevent the “extrajudicial killing of people aboard these boats, whatever the criminal conduct alleged against them.”

The US has defended the strikes as part of its campaign against drug trafficking and terrorism, insisting that the operations comply with international humanitarian law.

However, Türk rejected that justification, stressing that counter-narcotics activities fall under law enforcement rather than armed conflict. “The intentional use of lethal force is lawful only as a last resort when individuals pose an imminent threat to life,” he said.

The UN human rights chief said there was no evidence to suggest that those targeted posed such a threat. “Based on the very sparse information provided publicly by the US authorities, none of the individuals on the targeted boats appeared to pose an imminent threat to the lives of others,” he noted.

Türk called for independent and transparent investigations into the reported attacks and urged the US to ensure its counter-narcotics operations fully comply with international human rights obligations.

“The US should investigate and, if necessary, prosecute and punish individuals accused of serious crimes in accordance with the fundamental rule-of-law principles of due process and fair trial, for which the US has long stood,” he concluded.

–UN/ChannelAfrica–