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The Guardian World1 min read
US kills 3 in strike on alleged drug smuggling boat in Eastern Pacific
TL;DR
The US military killed three individuals in a strike on a drug smuggling boat in the Eastern Pacific. The attack is part of a broader effort to combat drug trafficking from Latin America.
Key points
- US military killed at least three people in a strike
- The strike targeted a drug smuggling boat in the Eastern Pacific
- The attack is part of a crackdown on drug traffickers by the Trump administration
Mentioned in this story
US Southern CommandTrump administration
The United States military has killed at least three people in a strike on a boat in the Eastern Pacific Ocean that it alleged was smuggling drugs.
The attack, carried out on Thursday, was the latest in a series of strikes on vessels close to the US. The Trump administration says it is cracking down on drug traffickers.
According to Washington, the attack targeted a ship that was carrying unidentified narcotics from Latin America to the US.
The US Southern Command said in a social media post that it had conducted a “lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organisations”.
“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. Three male narco-terrorists were killed during this action,” the statement added.
An unclassified video attached to the statement appeared to show the moment a speeding boat was struck by a missile and went up in flames.
At least 211 people have now been killed in such strikes in the Pacific.
US President Donald Trump has claimed that the country is in “armed conflict” with drug cartels in Latin America, and that his administration is seeking to stem the flow of drugs.
However, his administration has not offered concrete evidence connecting all those killed with drug trafficking, with some accusing the US of killing local fishermen with no known links to cartels.
Critics have consistently questioned the legality of the strikes, including US politicians and human rights groups.
On Thursday, US senators demanded that the Pentagon release “unedited” videos of the boat strikes.
The first attack in September drew particular scrutiny from US lawmakers after the military confirmed it used a “double-tap” approach that killed two survivors of an initial hit. Eleven people were killed in that strike.
Trump’s administration has insisted that the follow-up hit was in “self-defense,” but critics say it is illegal to kill survivors.
Q&A
What was the reason for the US military strike in the Eastern Pacific?
The strike targeted a boat allegedly smuggling drugs from Latin America to the US, as part of the US's crackdown on drug traffickers.
How many people were killed in the US strike on the drug smuggling boat?
At least three individuals were killed during the US military strike on the boat.
What has the US Southern Command stated about the vessel involved in the strike?
The US Southern Command reported that the vessel was operated by Designated Terrorist Organisations and was confirmed to be engaged in narco-trafficking operations.
