US Military Conducts 21st Strike on Suspected Drug-Trafficking Vessel, Killing Three

The US military executed its 21st known strike on a vessel suspected of drug trafficking, resulting in three fatalities, as announced by US Southern Command. The operation targeted a vessel in international waters of the Eastern Pacific, identified through intelligence as being involved in narcotics smuggling along established trafficking routes. This action brings the total number of individuals killed in such US military operations to 83.

The campaign, utilizing a combination of fighter jets, drones, and gunships, aims to disrupt the flow of drugs into the United States. However, the legality of these strikes has been questioned by some experts, who suggest they may contravene US and international law. The Justice Department has informed Congress that the administration does not require its approval to carry out these operations.

The ongoing campaign has also begun to surface tensions with allies; the United Kingdom has stopped sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug-trafficking vessels to avoid being complicit in the strikes, which the UK believes are illegal. Similarly, the president of Colombia has ordered his country to suspend intelligence sharing with the US until the attacks cease.