The United States has formally abandoned the search for survivors of a boat strike in the Pacific Ocean, leaving them to die at sea. The incident occurred on December 30 when US forces attacked three boats, killing civilians and causing widespread destruction.
According to reports, US forces initially targeted one vessel, killing three civilians before striking two other vessels. Crew members from these vessels abandoned ship, jumping into the ocean and distancing themselves from follow-on engagements that sank their respective vessels. The Coast Guard said it had suspended search efforts due to a "declining probability of survival" for those in the water.
The incident is part of a larger pattern of US military operations in the Caribbean and Pacific, which have resulted in at least 117 civilian deaths since September. Critics are labeling these strikes as extrajudicial killings that violate international law.
Experts argue that abandoning survivors to die at sea is tantamount to a death sentence and amounts to a breach of humanitarian law. Former Coast Guard rear admiral William Baumgartner described this action as "essentially killing them" once they had jumped into the water, with no means of escape.
The incident highlights concerns over US military operations in these regions, which have raised questions about accountability, transparency, and adherence to international law. The Intercept reported that experts and lawmakers from both parties have been critical of these strikes, calling them "illegal extrajudicial killings."
According to reports, US forces initially targeted one vessel, killing three civilians before striking two other vessels. Crew members from these vessels abandoned ship, jumping into the ocean and distancing themselves from follow-on engagements that sank their respective vessels. The Coast Guard said it had suspended search efforts due to a "declining probability of survival" for those in the water.
The incident is part of a larger pattern of US military operations in the Caribbean and Pacific, which have resulted in at least 117 civilian deaths since September. Critics are labeling these strikes as extrajudicial killings that violate international law.
Experts argue that abandoning survivors to die at sea is tantamount to a death sentence and amounts to a breach of humanitarian law. Former Coast Guard rear admiral William Baumgartner described this action as "essentially killing them" once they had jumped into the water, with no means of escape.
The incident highlights concerns over US military operations in these regions, which have raised questions about accountability, transparency, and adherence to international law. The Intercept reported that experts and lawmakers from both parties have been critical of these strikes, calling them "illegal extrajudicial killings."