US Military Conducts Third Strike in Eastern Pacific, Killing Two
The U.S. military has carried out its third strike in May on vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in two fatalities and one survivor.
The United States military announced on Friday that it conducted a strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and leaving one survivor. This marks the third such operation in May targeting vessels in the region.
U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) released a statement accompanied by a video depicting a moving boat being struck by a missile, leading to an explosion and subsequent fire. According to SOUTHCOM, the vessel was operated by "Designated Terrorist Organizations" and was engaged in narcotics trafficking along known routes in the Eastern Pacific. The statement noted that no U.S. military personnel were harmed during the operation.
Since the initiation of these operations in September, the U.S. military has reported over 170 fatalities associated with strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels. The Trump administration has justified these actions by equating drug trafficking to armed attacks on the United States and designating various criminal groups involved in the drug trade as "terrorist" organizations.
However, international legal scholars, human rights organizations, and regional leaders have raised concerns about the legality of these strikes, characterizing them as extrajudicial killings. They argue that, even if individuals on these vessels are involved in drug trafficking, they should be apprehended and subjected to legal proceedings rather than lethal force.