WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, the U.S. military conducted an airstrike against a boat suspected of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of four individuals. This marks the fourth similar military action reported in recent days.
This operation is part of an ongoing initiative targeting vessels accused of drug smuggling in Latin American waters, a campaign that commenced over seven months ago and persists despite the military’s involvement in the conflict with Iran.
With this latest strike, the total number of fatalities has risen to 175 since the operations began in early September. Additionally, the U.S. Coast Guard has halted its search for a survivor from an incident that occurred on Saturday.
U.S. Southern Command shared aerial footage on social media on Tuesday, depicting a boat floating in the ocean before it was struck by a missile, resulting in an explosion. Previously, the military reported hitting two boats on Saturday and another on Monday.
The military asserts that all targeted vessels were operated by “Designated Terrorist Organizations” and that intelligence supported claims they were navigating established drug trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were actively involved in narco-trafficking activities, although no concrete evidence was provided.
President Donald Trump has characterized the U.S. as being in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels in Latin America, defending these strikes as a necessary measure to reduce the influx of drugs into the U.S. and combat the rising number of overdose deaths. However, his administration has not presented substantial proof to corroborate claims of neutralizing “narcoterrorists.”
These military actions began several months prior to the U.S. operation in January that led to the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who was transported to New York to face charges related to drug trafficking and has entered a plea of not guilty.
Critics have raised concerns regarding the legality and effectiveness of the maritime strikes, noting that the fentanyl responsible for many overdose fatalities is primarily trafficked overland from Mexico, where it is synthesized using chemicals sourced from China and India.
