The US military recently conducted airstrikes against two boats believed to be carrying drugs, resulting in the deaths of five individuals on board. While the US Southern Command has not disclosed the specific location of these strikes, the military has been actively targeting vessels suspected of drug smuggling in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific over the past three months.
This latest operation occurred just one day after a previous strike on what the US described as 'three narco-trafficking vessels traveling as a convoy', leading to at least three additional casualties.
The Trump administration has characterized these military operations as part of a broader non-international armed conflict against drug traffickers, although legal experts have raised concerns that they may violate international laws governing conflict.
Since September 2, when the US carried out its first attack on a boat in international waters, there have been over 30 strikes, resulting in more than 110 fatalities. The initial attack has come under scrutiny after it was revealed that US forces struck the targeted boat twice, killing two survivors clinging to the hull after the first strike.
Following the strike on a convoy of boats on December 30, US Southern Command hinted at the presence of survivors but did not specify their number. Reports indicate that the US Coast Guard has been informed to search for them, with eight survivors reportedly being sought, though their current status remains unclear.
Critics note that while the US claims these vessels were engaged in narcotics trafficking, no concrete evidence has been publicly provided to substantiate these allegations. Despite this, Southern Command maintains confidence in its intelligence pointing to the vessels' involvement in narcotics activities.
