In brief
The US Southern Command announced airstrikes targeting vessels purported to be transporting narcotics, resulting in the deaths of five people. This operation is part of an intensified campaign initiated by the Trump administration against drug trafficking. More than 30 strikes have been reported since September, drawing scrutiny over their legality, especially following a controversial 'double-tap' strike that killed survivors of an initial attack.
The US military says it struck two boats it alleges were carrying drugs on Wednesday, killing five people on board.
US Southern Command did not specify the location of the latest strikes but noted that US forces have been targeting vessels suspected of smuggling narcotics to the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific for the past three months.
Wednesday's strike followed a prior attack directed at what the US described as three narco-trafficking vessels traveling in a convoy, which resulted in at least three fatalities.
The operations undertaken by the Trump administration have been classified as a non-international armed conflict with alleged traffickers, though legal experts have argued that these actions could violate international laws governing armed conflicts.
Since September 2, when the US executed its first attack on a suspected drug boat in international waters, there have been over 30 strikes recorded, claiming the lives of more than 110 individuals.
This initial attack in particular sparked concerns among lawmakers, especially since it was revealed that US forces had targeted the boat twice—resulting in the deaths of individuals who were attempting to survive after the first strike.
Lawmakers raised alarms that this 'double-tap' approach might breach established rules of engagement.
The US Southern Command also stated in its announcement regarding the strike on the convoy that there were survivors, although it did not disclose the number.
According to anonymous sources, eight survivors were reported to be sought by the US Coast Guard, but their status remains unclear.
The US government has yet to furnish concrete evidence that the boats targeted were actually engaged in drug trafficking, though it maintains that intelligence confirmed their activities along known smuggling routes.
