(Washington, March 31, 2026) – The latest strike carried out by the United States against a boat in the Caribbean Sea, which reportedly resulted in four deaths, falls within the framework of a recurring resort to lethal force outside a context of armed conflict, Human Rights Watch stated today. According to the organization, this practice is equivalent to a series of extrajudicial executions.
On March 25, the United States Southern Command announced that a “lethal kinetic strike” was conducted against a boat involved in drug trafficking, marking the 47th such strike by the U.S. military in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. These 47 strikes have resulted in the deaths of 163 individuals.
“These strikes are not isolated incidents but rather part of a recurring trend of resorting to military force where the law does not allow, time and time again,” said Sarah Yager, director of the Washington office of Human Rights Watch. “The fact that these strikes no longer make headlines does not make these violations any less serious or less illegal.”
International law makes a clear distinction between armed conflicts and law enforcement operations. In the Caribbean Sea or the Pacific Ocean, there is no armed conflict between the United States and a drug trafficking organization, therefore there are no individuals in these regions who could be considered legitimate military targets.
Outside of armed conflict, the use of lethal force is only legitimate when strictly necessary to protect lives. Individuals suspected of criminal activities do not automatically become legitimate targets for American strikes; to date, no publicly available information has shown that any of the targeted individuals posed an imminent threat to the lives of others.
Human Rights Watch called for the U.S. government to immediately end this campaign of lethal strikes and ensure accountability for these illegal killings. The government should also assess the damages caused to victims and their families appropriately, and provide reparations for these damages. If the Trump administration continues to evade its responsibility regarding these illegal killings, Congress should ensure the establishment of independent investigations to ensure accountability.
“When the illegal use of force repeats over time, it risks becoming normalized,” Sarah Yager concluded. “This trend is dangerous as it paves the way for the use of lethal force whenever and wherever the government wants, without limits.”
