U.S. military says 5 were killed by a strike on an alleged drug smuggling boat in the eastern Pacific
Summary
The U.S. military said it struck an alleged drug-smuggling boat in the eastern Pacific on Tuesday, killing five people. The attack brings the reported death toll from U.S. strikes on boats to at least 240 in more than 70 strikes; the military provided no evidence that the boat carried drugs.Key Facts
- U.S. Southern Command said intelligence indicated the vessel was involved in drug trafficking.
- A video posted on X showed a small boat before an explosion enveloped it.
- The Trump administration began targeting people it calls “narcoterrorists” in September 2025.
- President Donald Trump has described the United States as being in an “armed conflict” with cartels in Latin America.
- Critics and military legal scholars have questioned the strikes’ legality and effectiveness.
- The Pentagon’s watchdog plans to review whether the military followed its targeting framework, but not the legality of the strikes.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in September that the United States would seek regional allies’ approval for future attacks, while retaining the option to act unilaterally.
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