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U.S. Military Strike on Suspected Drug Boat in Eastern Pacific Kills One
A U.S. military strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean killed one man and left two survivors on Tuesday. The attack is the latest in a series that has killed at least 194 people since September.
May 27, 6:12 AM·1m read3 sources
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U.S. military conducted a strike Tuesday on a vessel it described as a suspected drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing one man and leaving two survivors. U.S. Southern Command posted video on social media showing the boat speeding through the water before exploding into flames.
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The command stated that one male was killed during the action and two survivors remained. U.S. Coast Guard to activate search and rescue for the survivors.
Since September The strike is part of a campaign that began in early September and has now killed at least 194 people, according to an Associated Press tally. The operation has been referred to as Southern Spear. U.S. military has stated that the targeted vessels were operated by designated terrorist organizations and were traveling along known narco-trafficking routes.
It has not released evidence that the boats were carrying drugs.
The Pentagon inspector general’s office announced last week that it would evaluate whether the military followed its established six-phase targeting framework during the strikes. The review is described as self-initiated and will not examine the legality of the attacks.
Legal experts and rights groups have raised concerns that the strikes could amount to extrajudicial killings because the targets have not been shown to pose an immediate threat to the United States. U.S. communities. Earlier this month the administration said the president had signed a new counterterrorism strategy that places eliminating drug cartels in the Western Hemisphere as the highest priority.
