WASHINGTON – A new series of U.S. military airstrikes targeting suspected drug-trafficking boats in the Pacific Ocean has resulted in two more deaths, bringing the reported death toll from similar operations over the past week to six.
The latest strikes were carried out as part of ongoing U.S. efforts to disrupt maritime drug trafficking routes used by criminal organizations operating in Latin America. The U.S. military released video footage showing small boats being destroyed in explosions at sea.
However, the operations have sparked growing controversy because authorities have not publicly provided evidence that the targeted vessels were carrying narcotics at the time they were attacked.
Human rights organizations have strongly criticized the strikes, arguing that the killings may constitute extrajudicial executions and could violate international law. Critics contend that the United States is carrying out lethal operations without judicial oversight or clear proof that those targeted posed an immediate threat.
The controversy has intensified as the number of fatalities continues to rise. According to reports, six people have been killed in the past week during operations against suspected drug-trafficking vessels.
President Donald Trump has defended the military actions, rejecting accusations of wrongdoing. The president argues that the United States is effectively engaged in an armed conflict with powerful drug cartels that he says threaten national security and contribute to the flow of narcotics into the country.
Supporters of the operations maintain that drug trafficking organizations operate increasingly sophisticated maritime networks and that military action is necessary to disrupt their activities. Opponents, however, warn that treating anti-drug operations as a military conflict could blur the distinction between law enforcement and warfare.
Legal experts note that the debate centers on whether international humanitarian law, which governs armed conflicts, applies to the fight against transnational criminal organizations. Human rights groups insist that suspects should be arrested and prosecuted whenever possible rather than targeted with lethal force.
The latest strikes are likely to increase scrutiny of U.S. counter-narcotics policies as questions continue to be raised about the legal basis, transparency and human rights implications of the operations.