US Military Kills Two In Strike On Alleged Drug Vessel In Eastern Pacific
US strike kills two in alleged drug boat operation.
The United States military has carried out another strike on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people, according to a statement from US Southern Command. The operation marks the latest in a series of maritime attacks targeting boats alleged to be involved in narcotics transport across Latin American waters.
US Southern Command released video footage showing a small vessel floating at sea before being hit by an explosion, after which smoke and flames were seen rising from the boat. Officials said the strike was part of an ongoing campaign against suspected drug-trafficking networks operating in international waters. A day earlier, a separate strike in the same region reportedly killed one person, while two others survived and were handed over to the US Coast Guard for search and rescue procedures.
The military campaign has been ongoing since early September and spans the eastern Pacific Ocean as well as parts of the Caribbean Sea. According to officials cited in reports, at least 196 people have been killed in these operations so far. However, authorities have not publicly released detailed evidence confirming that the targeted vessels were carrying narcotics at the time of the strikes.
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The strikes have drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and legal experts, with questions raised over the operational framework used to identify and target the boats. The Pentagon inspector general has initiated a review to assess whether the military followed the established Joint Targeting Cycle, which governs how targets are selected, analysed, and engaged. The review was described as self-initiated and will not examine the legality of the strikes themselves.
The US administration has defended the operations, stating that the country is engaged in a broader conflict against Latin American drug cartels responsible for the illegal narcotics trade and overdose crisis in American communities. Officials argue that the maritime strikes are aimed at disrupting trafficking routes and reducing the flow of drugs into the United States, though the lack of publicly disclosed evidence regarding the cargo on the vessels continues to fuel debate over the campaign.
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