Washington confirms carrying out a strike against a boat suspected of transporting drugs in the Pacific

An American official told Reuters that the U.S. military carried out an airstrike targeting a boat suspected of transporting narcotics in the Pacific, as part of an escalating campaign against cross-border drug trafficking networks.

The operation comes under an expanded mandate allowing U.S. forces to target any vessel believed to pose a security threat or linked to smuggling groups classified as terrorist organizations, especially in areas like the Caribbean and northern Venezuela.

Although no precise details were disclosed about the identity of the boat or the results of the strike, media reports indicated that there were survivors from the crew of the targeted vessel, which is considered a precedent in this type of operations.

The U.S. military action has sparked legal controversy in human rights circles, as some lawmakers and experts questioned the compatibility of these strikes with international law, especially in light of the absence of public evidence regarding the nature of the targeted shipments.