The United States military said it killed two people in a strike on a boat suspected of drug trafficking in the Pacific Ocean, bringing the death toll from the campaign to at least 170.
According to U.S. Southern Command, the vessel was operating along known drug trafficking routes and was allegedly involved in narcotics smuggling. However, authorities did not provide concrete evidence to support that claim.
Washington has been conducting a months-long campaign targeting boats in the Pacific and Caribbean that it says are linked to drug trafficking networks supplying the United States. The operations have intensified since late 2025 and are framed by the administration of Donald Trump as part of a broader fight against so-called “narco-terrorists.”
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The latest strike follows similar incidents in recent days, including one that left five people dead. Overall, the campaign has resulted in at least 170 fatalities, according to U.S. officials.
Despite the scale of the operations, critics — including legal experts and United Nations officials — have condemned the killings as potential extrajudicial executions, raising concerns about violations of international law and the lack of due process.
