In brief
In a recent military operation, five individuals were killed when the US military struck two boats alleged to be involved in drug trafficking. This marks a continuation of a series of strikes aimed at narcotics smuggling routes, amidst legal and ethical concerns regarding the operations. The US Southern Command has been targeting such vessels for the past three months, with extensive operations resulting in over 30 strikes and more than 110 fatalities to date.
The US military says it struck two boats it alleges were carrying drugs on Wednesday, killing five people on board.
US Southern Command did not disclose the exact location of the latest strikes but noted that US forces have been targeting vessels suspected of smuggling narcotics to the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific for the past three months. This latest strike came a day after the US targeted three 'narco-trafficking vessels travelling as a convoy', resulting in at least three fatalities.
The Trump administration has characterized its military operations as a non-international armed conflict against alleged traffickers, yet legal experts warn that these actions may violate laws governing conflict. More than 30 strikes have been reported as part of this ongoing 'war on drugs', leading to over 110 deaths since the first attack in international waters on September 2.
The initial attack generated significant scrutiny, particularly because it reportedly involved a 'double-tap' strike, which killed two survivors clinging to the boat after the first strike.
Following a recent convoy strike, US Southern Command indicated that several survivors were located, although details remain sparse, and it is unclear how many were recovered. The command has reiterated that intelligence supports the targeting of these vessels as active participants in narcotics trafficking.
