U.S. military strike on suspected drug vessel kills two, leaves six survivors
A U.S. strike on a boat accused of drug smuggling in the eastern Pacific killed two people and left six survivors, adding to a campaign that has resulted in over 210 deaths since September.
The U.S. military carried out a strike on a vessel it said was involved in drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Thursday, killing two occupants and leaving six others alive. The operation is part of a broader effort that has seen more than 60 such attacks, with the total death toll exceeding 210 since the policy was launched in early September.
U.S. Central Command reported that the Coast Guard was notified after the strike, but the Coast Guard has not confirmed whether the survivors were rescued and previously halted a search after a similar incident on June 16. Southern Command said the target was located on a known smuggling route, though no evidence of drugs on board was released.
A black-and-white video posted on social media showed the boat moving quickly before being hit by a projectile and catching fire. The White House later said a follow-up strike that hit the wreckage was conducted in self-defense and complied with the laws of armed conflict.
"The follow-up strike was carried out to ensure the vessel was destroyed and in accordance with the laws of armed conflict," a White House spokesperson said.
Lawmakers have asked the Pentagon to release unedited footage of the first strike after reports that survivors of the initial attack were later targeted. Legal experts have raised questions about the legality of striking individuals who had already survived an attack.
Critics argue that the strategy’s effectiveness is uncertain, noting that much of the fentanyl causing U.S. overdoses is transported over land from Mexico, not by sea.