U.S. Military Conducts Strikes on Drug Boats Amid Ongoing Operations

U.S. Southern Command announced on December 4 that it conducted another lethal kinetic strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of four men. This operation marks the 22nd military strike against suspected drug trafficking boats since the Trump administration intensified its campaign against drug smuggling.

The Pentagon stated that intelligence confirmed the vessel was carrying illicit narcotics and was transiting a known narco-trafficking route. The strikes have reportedly killed at least 87 people in total.

This latest strike comes amid ongoing inquiries from the House and Senate regarding a September 2 incident, where a subsequent strike allegedly killed survivors from an earlier attack. Lawmakers have expressed serious concerns about the legality of these actions, particularly the decision to target individuals who were no longer a threat.

Defense officials, including Adm. Frank Bradley, defended the operations as lawful under both U.S. and international law. The legal basis for using military force against suspected drug smugglers has faced scrutiny, leading to varied accounts from lawmakers about the nature of the strikes and what they witnessed during closed-door briefings.