The US military attacked a boat suspected of drug smuggling in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, killing two men. The strike is part of an ongoing campaign by the Trump administration against alleged traffickers in Latin America, which has resulted in at least 207 deaths since September.
US Southern Command stated that the vessel was targeted along known smuggling routes, though no evidence was provided that it was carrying drugs. A video posted on social media showed the boat speeding before bursting into flames. The administration has justified the strikes as necessary to combat drug trafficking and overdose deaths, but critics question their legality and effectiveness.
Many fatal overdoses in the US are linked to fentanyl, which is typically trafficked overland from Mexico, not by sea. The strikes have drawn scrutiny from Democratic lawmakers and military legal scholars, particularly after an initial strike in September where survivors were killed in a follow-up attack. The Pentagon's watchdog is reviewing whether the military followed proper targeting procedures, though not the legality of the strikes.
