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A top UN official has called for an investigation into the US military strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Pacific.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, the United States has carried out at least 14 military strikes since early September targeting boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of at least 61 people (with 3 survivors being recovered). The US claims these vessels are operated by drug-trafficking groups, including the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which it has designated a terrorist organization. According to US officials, each strike is preceded by surveillance operations that confirm the presence of narcotics on board and verify the boat’sinvolvement in smuggling. Intelligence gathered before the strikes, they say, includes visual identification of drugs and tracking of suspicious routes, forming the basis for the decision to engage militarily.

What’s going on now: In a notable development, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has publicly condemned the US strikes, calling them “unacceptable” and demanding they be halted immediately. “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,” Türk said in a statement released Friday. He argued that the strikes violate international human rights law, emphasizing that lethal force is only permissible as a last resort when individuals pose an “imminent threat to life.”

According to the UN, the current campaign lacks the legal basis required under international law and must be subject to “prompt, independent, and transparent investigations.” Türk’s remarks echo growing concerns among international leaders, including Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who recently accused the US of killing a civilian fisherman in one of the strikes (a claim the US government has firmly denied).

While the US maintains that the targets are confirmed drug traffickers linked to designated terrorist groups, Türk pointed out that “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 or otherwise justified the use of lethal armed force against them under international law.”

As of now, the US has not responded to Türk’s comments. More to come.