Thursday 24 September 2026 · Edition of the day

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The Skeptic's Daily

The day's biggest stories, taken apart. For each one: what is actually established, what is only asserted, the questions worth asking — and a plausibility score for the central claim, given everything currently known.

Stories
1
Average plausibility
65%
How to read the score
It rates how well the core claim is evidenced — not how important the story is, nor whether it is good or bad news.
RegionAllGlobalAfricaNorth AmericaSouth AmericaAsia-PacificEuropeMiddle East
TopicAllPoliticsConflict & SecurityBusinessScienceHealth
01Conflict & SecuritySouth America

UN expert says US drug-boat strikes may amount to crimes against humanity

A UN special rapporteur counts 223 people killed in 68 strikes on suspected trafficking vessels over the past year.

UN special rapporteur Ben Saul concluded that US strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Pacific violate international law and may constitute crimes against humanity. The report says 68 vessels were struck between September 2025 and August 2026, killing at least 223 people. Washington calls the strikes self-defense against designated narco-terrorist groups.

What holds up

  • ✓The report was published by the UN human rights office under Ben Saul's name.
  • ✓The Pentagon has released videos of several strikes.

What doesn't yet

  • ?The identities and alleged trafficking links of those killed are unverified; the Pentagon has disclosed little evidence.
  • ?The US claim of an 'armed conflict' with cartels is disputed by the UN and rights groups.

Ask before you share

  • →What evidence ties individual targets to drug trafficking?
  • →Will the US accept any independent review?
  • →What legal consequences could follow from the finding?

Sources & original reporting

  1. [1]Al Jazeera · Published 22 Sept 2026 · aljazeera.com