US Military Conducts Lethal Strikes on Drug Trafficking Vessels in Eastern Pacific
US Southern Command conducts lethal strikes on suspected drug vessels in the Eastern Pacific, causing over 100 fatalities in 29 operations since September.
Overview
The U.S. Southern Command has been conducting lethal strikes against vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
These military operations are part of the Trump administration's strategy to curb drug flow into the U.S. and exert pressure on Nicolás Maduro.
One confirmed narco-terrorist was killed in a recent strike on an alleged drug boat, with videos showing the vessel catching fire.
Since early September, at least 105 individuals have been killed across 29 known U.S. military strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats.
The U.S. military's actions in the Eastern Pacific have attracted significant scrutiny from both lawmakers and human rights activists.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover this story neutrally by consistently attributing all potentially loaded terms and allegations, such as "narco-terrorist" and "Designated Terrorist Organizations," directly to U.S. Southern Command's statement. They avoid adopting these terms as their own editorial language, focusing instead on reporting the official account without additional commentary or evaluative descriptions.
Articles (4)
FAQ
At least 105 individuals have been killed across 29 known U.S. military strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats since early September.
The strikes are part of the Trump administration's strategy to stop the flow of drugs into the U.S. and increase pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
On December 17, a US military strike killed four male narco-terrorists on a vessel transiting a known narco-trafficking route in the Eastern Pacific.
Lawmakers and human rights activists criticize the strikes for scant evidence that targets are drug smugglers and view them as extrajudicial killings.
Intelligence confirms vessels are on known narco-trafficking routes and engaged in operations, with videos showing strikes but no direct drug evidence provided.
History
This story does not have any previous versions.