The US military confirmed on Friday that it struck a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and leaving one survivor. This attack marks the latest in a series of strikes on boats suspected of transporting narcotics, which have collectively claimed over 190 lives since September.
Details of the Incident
A video released by the US Southern Command depicts the vessel navigating through the water before being hit by what appears to be a missile. The footage momentarily goes dark, then shows the boat engulfed in flames.
The Southern Command stated that “the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes” and “was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.” It confirmed that the two deceased were men and that the US Coast Guard was notified to initiate a search and rescue operation for the sole survivor. No further information was provided.
Rising Death Toll
The military has targeted multiple alleged drug-running boats in the eastern Pacific in recent weeks, including a strike on Tuesday that killed three people. According to a tally by the Intercept, there have now been 58 such boat strikes since September, resulting in a total of 193 deaths and only four survivors.
Legal and Human Rights Concerns
The legality of these boat strikes has come under scrutiny. Legal experts argue that the attacks constitute unlawful extrajudicial killings by the Pentagon, carried out with a complete lack of accountability. Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have condemned the strikes.
The Pentagon has framed its operations in the region as a campaign against “narco-terrorism,” but has provided scant evidence of coordinated drug-smuggling rings.
