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The US military carried out an attack on a vessel it described as a drug trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific on Wednesday, killing two men, officials said.
It marked the second deadly strike in as many days under an ongoing US campaign that began last September and has now resulted in nearly 200 deaths, according to an AFP tally. Human rights groups have raised concerns that the operations could amount to extrajudicial killings.
US Southern Command said on X that the targeted vessel was operating along a known smuggling route and was engaged in drug trafficking activities. It described the individuals on board as “narco-terrorists” who were killed during the operation.
The latest strike follows a series of similar military actions in recent months as part of operation “Southern Spear,” which the Trump administration launched in early September. President Donald Trump has said the US is effectively at war with drug cartels operating in Latin America.
However, the administration has not publicly provided detailed evidence confirming that all targeted vessels were involved in drug trafficking.
In a previous attack on Tuesday, officials said two people survived and were left in the water, prompting a US Coast Guard rescue response.
Video released by US Southern Command showed the vessel before impact, followed by an explosion and burning debris in the sea. Legal experts and rights organisations continue to question the legality of the strikes, arguing they may violate international law when carried out without due process.
