The U.S. military executed another strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, accusing it of drug smuggling. This third strike in a week resulted in the deaths of three individuals, raising the total death toll from these operations to over 200. This is part of a sustained U.S. Southern Command campaign in Latin America and the Caribbean.
U.S. Southern Command, responsible for military operations in the area, announced that the boat was involved in narco-trafficking activities and operated by a recognized terrorist group. However, no evidence was provided to substantiate this claim.
In an unusual turn, the military shared color footage of the attack on social media. The video depicts a small boat floating before being engulfed in flames after the strike, with debris scattered in the surrounding water.
General Francis L. Donovan, the U.S. commander overseeing operations in Latin America, directed this strike. On the same day, he met with Cuban military leaders at the U.S. Navy base in Guantanamo Bay.
The death toll from these military actions started rising since early September. In the current week, two additional strikes were declared on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Trump administration declared the U.S. is in armed conflict with Latin American drug cartels, attributing them to the influx of drugs into America.
There has been some confusion as reports suggest certain individuals initially noted as survivors were not located. The legal basis for these maritime attacks is under scrutiny. A Washington Post report confirmed by the White House noted that during the first attack on September 2, a secondary strike, termed a ‘double tap,’ occurred, resulting in the deaths of two survivors from the initial attack. This has led some lawmakers to question if this action qualifies as a war crime.