Following the latest US government attack on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Sea yesterday, Amnesty International strongly condemns these acts and reiterates that they constitute extrajudicial killings, a form of murder, prohibited under international law, and represent a grave affront to the most basic principles of humanity and legality. No circumstances justify the arbitrary deprivation of life.
According to U.S. Southern Command, this recent attack, in addition to the more than 40 unilaterally perpetrated attacks by the United States armed forces since September 2025, left six people dead, bringing the total to at least 157 deaths recorded so far in this type of attack.
According to a post from the social network X, U.S. Southern Command reported that this attack took place under the direction of Commander Donovan, on the grounds that the vessel was operated by organizations that the United States has designated as terrorists. This is one of the deadliest single strikes since they began on September 2, 2025.
“The United States cannot claim the right to blow up boats with people on board based solely on suspicions of drug trafficking or other allegedly illicit activities. The rest of the international community cannot normalize these extrajudicial killings, in which the United States military is judge and executioner,” said Ana Piquer Amnesty International director for the Americas.
The organization also warns about command responsibility in these types of serious human rights violations and calls for a thorough and independent investigation that reaches the highest levels of the US government, so that those who gave the orders are held accountable before justice.
“Human life cannot be left to the mercy of a president’s whim. No president or military has the right to arbitrarily take life. The level of dehumanization and cynicism reflected in these acts is deeply alarming and should be of global concern. It is urgent to demand accountability and immediately end these types of attacks. Due to the current acquiescence of the Attorney General’s Office, Congress must step in with its oversight power and investigate” added Piquer.
Amnesty International regrets the lukewarmness and lack of leadership of most governments, as well as the Organization of American States, and urges the international community to speak out firmly against these actions, which constitute a serious threat to human rights and respect for international law, created precisely so that human dignity prevails over any form of power.
Governments must immediately suspend intelligence sharing that may contribute to these operations. They further should suspend export licenses to any defense material that could be used to perpetuate these murders.
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