Extract from ABC News
A video posted to X by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth appears to show US strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Pacific.
In short:
The UN says that US military strikes against boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean are "unacceptable" and must stop.
President Donald Trump has justified the attacks as a necessary escalation to stop the flow of drugs into the United States.
What's next?
There are fears the Trump administration could try to topple Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who faces charges of narcoterrorism in the United States.
The UN human rights chief has called for an immediate end to US military strikes against boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean that are allegedly carrying illegal drugs from South America.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk deemed the strikes "unacceptable" and called for an investigation into them, in what appeared to mark the first such condemnation of its kind from a United Nations organisation.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has called for an investigation into the US military strikes in the Caribbean Sea. (AP: Salvatore Di Nolfi)
Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for Türk's office, relayed his message at a UN briefing on Friday: "These attacks and their mounting human cost are unacceptable. The US must halt such attacks and take all measures necessary to prevent the extrajudicial killing of people aboard these boats."
She said Mr Türk believed "airstrikes by the United States of America on boats in the Caribbean and in the Pacific violate international human rights law".
Trump justifies attacks as anti-drug campaign
President Donald Trump has justified the attacks on the boats as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday the latest US military strike in the campaign, against a boat he said was carrying drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
All four people aboard were killed.
The USS Gerald R Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, has been ordered by Donald Trump to the Caribbean. (Reuters: Lise Aaserud)
It was the 14th strike since the campaign began in early September, and took the death toll to at least 61.
Ms Shamdasani noted the US explanations of the efforts as an anti-drug and counterterrorism campaign, but said countries had long agreed that the fight against illicit drug trafficking was a law enforcement matter governed by "careful limits" placed on the use of lethal force.
Intentional use of lethal force was allowed only as a last resort against someone representing "an imminent threat to life", she said.
"Otherwise, it would amount to a violation of the right of life and constitute extrajudicial killings," Ms Shamdasani said.
She said the strikes were taking place "outside the context" of armed conflict or active hostilities.
Trump says he hasn't considered land strikes
The strikes and the US military's growing presence near Venezuela have stoked fears that the Trump administration could try to topple Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who faces charges of narcoterrorism in the United States.
Speaking earlier this week from the USS George Washington aircraft carrier in Japan, Mr Trump noted the US attacks at sea and reiterated that "now we'll stop the drugs coming in by land".
Reporters spoke to Mr Trump on Friday while aboard Air Force One as he headed to Florida for the weekend.
Asked if he was considering land strikes in Venezuela, Mr Trump said, "No", but did not elaborate.
AP
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