The United States has carried out another deadly strike as part of its expanding anti-drug campaign, killing two more people and pushing the total death toll past 100, according to US military officials.
The latest operation targeted a small vessel suspected of being involved in drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. US Southern Command confirmed that intelligence assessments identified the boat as operating along known narcotics-smuggling routes, prompting what it described as a “lethal kinetic strike” conducted in international waters.
Footage released by the US military shows the vessel being hit, followed by explosions and visible debris. While officials did not disclose the precise location of the strike, they said two individuals believed to be “narco-terrorists” were killed during the operation.
This incident marks yet another escalation in Washington’s intensified campaign against transnational drug trafficking networks. Since September, the US military has reportedly carried out at least 30 such strikes, most of them in the Eastern Pacific, with some operations also taking place in the Caribbean Sea.
The Pentagon maintains that the actions are aimed at dismantling criminal supply chains that fuel drug distribution into the United States. However, the campaign has drawn criticism from international legal experts and human rights groups, who argue that these strikes risk crossing into extrajudicial killings. US authorities have firmly rejected these allegations, insisting all operations comply with international law.
The renewed action comes amid a broader hardline approach under US leadership, including maritime interdictions and economic pressure on countries accused of enabling drug trafficking. As the death toll continues to rise, the campaign is increasingly under global scrutiny for both its effectiveness and its legal implications.
