The US military attacked a boat suspected of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, killing two men. This brings the death toll to at least 207 since the Trump administration began targeting alleged traffickers it calls 'narcoterrorists' in early September.
US Southern Command stated the strike targeted known smuggling routes, but provided no evidence the vessel carried drugs. A video posted on X showed a boat speeding before bursting into flames.
President Donald Trump has described the US as being in 'armed conflict' with Latin American cartels, justifying the strikes as necessary to stem drug flows and fatal overdoses. However, critics question the legality and effectiveness of the strikes, noting that fentanyl is typically trafficked over land from Mexico.
The first strike in September drew scrutiny after a second attack killed survivors clinging to wreckage. The White House called it 'self-defence', but legal scholars argued it was illegal. The Pentagon's watchdog is reviewing whether targeting procedures were followed, but not the strikes' legality.
