US Strikes on Caribbean Boats Violate International Law, Says Human Rights Watch

Rights group condemns nearly 50 attacks as 'extrajudicial executions' outside any armed conflict context

Mar. 31, 2026 at 2:20pm

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A serene, atmospheric painting of a small boat floating alone on a dark, calm sea, with warm light and deep shadows creating a pensive, melancholy mood.The US government's sustained campaign of lethal force against boats in international waters raises grave concerns about the erosion of international law.Washington Today

Human Rights Watch has condemned the Trump administration's ongoing campaign of attacks on boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, which has killed at least 163 people since September 2025 without trial. The organization says the strikes highlight a 'sustained pattern of unlawful use of lethal force' that violates international law, even if the US claims the boats were engaged in drug trafficking.

Why it matters

The boat strike campaign represents a concerning expansion of the use of military force by the US government outside of recognized armed conflicts, which sets a dangerous precedent that could lead to the normalization of extrajudicial killings and the erosion of international laws governing the use of lethal force.

The details

According to Human Rights Watch, the US military has conducted 47 attacks on boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific since last year, presenting little evidence that the targeted vessels were actually engaged in drug trafficking. The organization says that even if such evidence existed, suspected criminals are not lawful targets for lethal force unless they pose an imminent threat to others.

  • The most recent attack occurred last week, killing four people.
  • The US has conducted 47 such attacks since September 2025.
  • At least 163 people have been killed in the boat strikes since September 2025.

The players

Human Rights Watch

An international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights.

Trump administration

The current presidential administration in the United States, led by President Donald Trump.

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What they’re saying

“These strikes aren't one-off incidents, they're part of a pattern of using military force where the law does not permit it, over and over again.”

— Sarah Yager, Washington director at Human Rights Watch

“When unlawful force is repeated over time, it risks becoming normalized. That's dangerous because it opens the door to using lethal force whenever and wherever a government wishes and without constraints.”

— Sarah Yager, Washington director at Human Rights Watch

The takeaway

The boat strike campaign represents a concerning expansion of the use of military force by the US government outside of recognized armed conflicts, which sets a dangerous precedent that could lead to the normalization of extrajudicial killings and the erosion of international laws governing the use of lethal force.