US Strike Kills 3 People on Drug Smuggling Boat in the Pacific
In a new escalation of its maritime campaign ongoing for six months, the United States carried out a military strike yesterday, Friday, targeting a boat in the Pacific that it claims was being used for drug smuggling, resulting in the deaths of three individuals, according to US forces.
The operation is part of a campaign that began in early September, targeting boats suspected of involvement in smuggling activities in international waters.
According to the announced data, the operations so far have resulted in the deaths of more than 150 people and the destruction of dozens of boats.
The administration of President Donald Trump asserts that it is engaged in what it describes as a "war" against those it calls "drug terrorists" active in Latin America.
However, the administration has not provided conclusive evidence proving the involvement of the targeted boats in smuggling operations, raising widespread debate about the legality of these strikes.
Experts in international law and human rights organizations have expressed concern that some operations may have included civilians who do not pose a direct threat to the United States, considering that these strikes could amount to extrajudicial killings.
Alongside the strikes in the Pacific, Washington has strengthened its naval presence in the Caribbean region, where it has targeted boats suspected of being used for drug smuggling in recent months, as well as seized oil tankers.
This campaign remains a subject of sharp division between those who see it as a decisive step against cross-border smuggling networks and those who warn of its legal and humanitarian implications in light of the absence of public evidence and the increasing number of victims.
