The US Southern Command reported that a military strike on a vessel accused of drug smuggling in the eastern Pacific Ocean resulted in one death and two survivors left at sea. The incident occurred as part of the military campaign known as 'Operation Southern Spear', which has raised concerns among global human rights organizations.
In a statement posted on social media platform X on November 14, the US Southern Command said: 'One male drug terrorist was killed in this action and there are two survivors.' The command added that it 'immediately notified the US Coast Guard to activate search and rescue for the survivors.' A video released by the US Southern Command shows a boat speeding across the water before exploding into flames. No survivors are visible in the footage.
According to Associated Press statistics, at least 194 people have been killed in dozens of similar attacks under 'Operation Southern Spear' since last September. President Donald Trump has declared that the US is in 'armed conflict' with Latin American drug cartels, which he blames for the deadly overdose crisis affecting many American communities.
The US military states the targeted vessel was 'operated by designated terrorist organizations' and was 'transiting known drug smuggling routes in the eastern Pacific.' However, they provided no further details or evidence to support these claims. Legal experts and human rights groups argue that such attacks on vessels could constitute extrajudicial executions, as they target civilians who pose no direct threat to the United States.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced that the president had approved a new 'counter-terrorism strategy', making the elimination of drug cartels in the Western Hemisphere a top priority for the administration.
