US Military Targets Another Alleged Drug Vessel in Eastern Pacific, Claims Three Lives
The U.S. military confirmed on Friday that it executed a strike against a vessel suspected of drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
According to U.S. Southern Command, the boat was navigating established narco-trafficking routes and was actively involved in drug operations. The strike reportedly resulted in the deaths of three individuals, with a video accompanying the announcement showing the vessel ablaze after the attack.
This incident marks an increase in fatalities attributed to military actions against alleged drug boats, bringing the total to at least 148 deaths across 43 separate strikes since early September, primarily in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific regions.
President Donald Trump has characterized the U.S. engagement as an “armed conflict” against Latin American cartels, asserting that these strikes are essential to curb drug trafficking. However, his administration has faced scrutiny for providing scant evidence to substantiate claims of eliminating “narcoterrorists.”
Concerns have been raised regarding the legality and efficacy of these military operations, particularly since fentanyl, a major contributor to overdose deaths, is often smuggled into the U.S. overland from Mexico, where it is synthesized using chemicals sourced from China and India.
The military's actions have sparked significant backlash, especially after reports emerged that survivors from the initial strike were killed in a subsequent attack. While the Trump administration and several Republican lawmakers defended this approach as lawful and necessary, Democratic lawmakers and legal analysts have labeled these actions as potential murder or even war crimes.
