Petro condemns U.S. strikes in Caribbean, urges accountability over civilian deaths.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has condemned U.S. airstrikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean, calling them an “act of tyranny.”

In an interview, Petro urged criminal charges against U.S. officials if investigations confirm Colombians were among the reported 17 killed since the strikes began this month.

CBI News reports that President Donald Trump defended the operations as necessary to curb fentanyl and other narcotics entering the U.S.

But legal experts and lawmakers argue the actions may violate international human rights law.

Petro insisted there should be “zero deaths” in stopping drug-smuggling boats, saying proportionality is broken “if you use anything more than a pistol.”

The Trump administration said the strikes, carried out in international waters, mainly targeted Venezuela.

However, details on the victims remain unclear, and claims that members of the Tren de Aragua gang were aboard the first targeted vessel are disputed.

Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers and U.N. experts have pressed Washington for answers, with the U.N. labeling the attacks extrajudicial killings.