The US military has conducted a series of strikes against vessels it alleges were involved in drug smuggling activities, killing five individuals on board one of the boats on Wednesday. While the US Southern Command did not disclose the exact location of these latest operations, it has been reported that US forces have targeted vessels suspected of transporting narcotics to the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific for the past three months.
This latest strike follows a previous operation conducted a day earlier, where the US targeted what it identified as three narco-trafficking vessels traveling in a convoy, resulting in the deaths of at least three people. The ongoing military actions have been framed by the Trump administration as part of a non-international armed conflict against the alleged traffickers. However, legal experts have raised concerns that these operations may violate international laws governing armed conflict.
Since the inception of this campaign, there have been over 30 strikes on vessels associated with drug trafficking, leading to more than 110 fatalities. This military campaign began with its first attack on a boat in international waters on September 2. This initial strike has drawn significant scrutiny from lawmakers, particularly after it was revealed that US forces executed a double-tap strike. This tactic involved targeting the same boat twice, resulting in the deaths of two survivors who were clinging to the hull after the first attack.
Some lawmakers have expressed alarm that this double-tap strike may have breached established rules of engagement. Following the attack on the convoy of three boats on December 30, the US Southern Command reported that there were several survivors, although the exact number remains unspecified. It was noted that the remaining alleged narco-traffickers abandoned the other two vessels, opting to jump overboard before further strikes sank their boats.
The US Coast Guard was promptly notified to initiate a search for any survivors from the recent strikes. According to reports from the Reuters news agency, a US official, who wished to remain anonymous, indicated that efforts were underway to locate eight survivors. However, it remains unclear whether any of these individuals have been successfully found.
Despite the military actions, the US has yet to provide concrete evidence that the targeted vessels were indeed transporting drugs. In its most recent communication, the Southern Command reiterated that intelligence confirmed the boats were operating along known narco-trafficking routes and were actively engaged in drug smuggling activities.
This ongoing military initiative underscores the US's commitment to combating drug trafficking, although it also raises significant legal and ethical questions regarding the conduct of military operations in international waters.