The US military conducted a strike on an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Tuesday, killing one person and leaving two survivors. According to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), three people were aboard the boat, which was suspected of being operated by a designated terrorist organization engaged in narco-trafficking operations.
Key Takeaways
The US military conducted a strike on an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing one person and leaving two survivors. This brings the total number of people killed in such strikes since September to at least 194.
- U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) reported three individuals were aboard the boat
- No evidence has been made public that any targeted vessels carried drugs
- The strike was part of a campaign targeting suspected drug-trafficking boats
- SOUTHCOM claims intelligence confirmed the vessel's involvement in narco-trafficking
The strike is part of an ongoing campaign by the Trump administration targeting vessels alleged to be trafficking drugs in Latin American waters, including the eastern Pacific and Caribbean. Since September, at least 194 people have been killed in these strikes. However, no evidence has been provided that any of the targeted vessels were carrying drugs.
The Pentagon watchdog announced last week it would evaluate whether the US military followed an established targeting framework during these attacks. The review will not investigate the legality of the strikes, which have drawn scrutiny from Democratic lawmakers and legal scholars. Meanwhile, critics have questioned the overall legality of the boat strikes, particularly after a follow-on strike in September killed two survivors of an initial attack.
The Trump administration has justified these attacks as necessary to combat Latin American drug cartels, which it claims are responsible for fatal drug overdoses in many American communities. President Trump has also sought to press regional leaders to take military action against drug traffickers and transnational gangs, labeling them an 'unacceptable threat' to hemispheric security.
SOUTHCOM released a black-and-white aerial video showing the boat racing across the water before erupting into flames. The U.S. Coast Guard has been notified to conduct search-and-rescue operations.
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