The Pentagon's internal watchdog is set to evaluate whether the U.S. military adhered to established targeting protocols during operations against suspected drug-smuggling vessels in Latin American waters, which have resulted in nearly 200 fatalities since early September. The review will focus on the six-phase Joint Targeting Cycle, as outlined in a May 11 letter addressed to Defense Department officials. This cycle encompasses a commander's intent, target development, analysis, decision, execution, and assessment.
Scope of the Evaluation
The Pentagon inspector general's office announced on Tuesday that the probe was "self-initiated" and did not provide a timeline for its completion. The news was first reported by Bloomberg. Notably, the evaluation will not examine the legality of the strikes, which have faced intense criticism from some Democratic lawmakers and military legal experts.
Context of the Campaign
The Trump administration has framed its actions as part of a war against Latin American drug cartels, which it holds responsible for the opioid crisis affecting many U.S. communities. Since early September, the military has conducted a campaign targeting small boats suspected of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, killing at least 193 people. U.S. Southern Command reported that one individual survived the most recent attack on May 8, though it remains unclear whether the Coast Guard successfully located and rescued the survivor, which would adjust the death toll.
Lack of Evidence and Controversy
The military has not provided concrete evidence that any of the destroyed vessels were carrying drugs, instead citing intelligence indicating they were "transiting along known narco-trafficking routes." The first strike in early September drew particular scrutiny. In that incident, two men initially survived the attack that killed nine others, but they were killed when the boat was struck again while clinging to the wreckage.
Rep. Adam Smith, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, described the follow-up strike in December, stating that survivors were "basically two shirtless people clinging to the bow of a capsized and inoperable boat, drifting in the water — until the missiles come and kill them." The White House defended the second strike, asserting it was carried out "in self-defense" to ensure the boat's destruction and in compliance with the laws of armed conflict.
