The US military announced on Friday that it had struck a vessel in the eastern Pacific, resulting in two fatalities and one survivor. This incident marks the latest in a series of attacks on boats suspected of transporting narcotics, bringing the total death toll from such strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific to over 190 since September.
Details of the Strike
A video released by the US Southern Command depicts the vessel traveling through the water before being hit by what appears to be a missile. The screen momentarily goes black, then shows the boat engulfed in flames.
The Southern Command stated that "the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes" and "was engaged in narco-trafficking operations." The two deceased individuals were identified as men. The US Coast Guard was notified to initiate a search and rescue operation for the sole survivor. No further details were provided.
Recent Pattern of Attacks
The military has targeted multiple alleged drug-running boats in the eastern Pacific in recent weeks, including a strike on Tuesday that killed three people. According to a tally by the Intercept, there have been 58 such boat strikes since September, resulting in 193 deaths and four survivors.
Legal and Human Rights Concerns
The legality of these boat strikes is under scrutiny. Legal experts argue that the attacks amount to unlawful extrajudicial killings by the Pentagon, with a complete lack of accountability. Human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have condemned the strikes.
The Pentagon has framed its operations in the region as a campaign against "narco-terrorism," but has provided scant evidence of coordinated drug-smuggling rings.
