The United States military killed two people during an attack on a vessel in the eastern Pacific on Monday, according to US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).
SOUTHCOM confirmed the strike in a social media post, describing the deceased as "male narco-terrorists." The military did not provide evidence to support the classification of the individuals.
US forces targeted the boat after intelligence reports suggested it was "transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific." The strike was carried out via a "lethal kinetic strike" under the orders of US Commander General Francis L. Donovan.
Rising death toll in maritime strikes
A video released by SOUTHCOM shows a stationary boat with outboard engines and nearby fishing net floats. The footage captures the vessel being struck from the air before exploding into flames.
This attack follows a strike on Sunday in which the US military destroyed two boats in the eastern Pacific. That operation killed five people and left one survivor, according to SOUTHCOM.
Since September, US military strikes on vessels in the Pacific and Caribbean have resulted in at least 170 deaths. The Pentagon maintains these operations are essential to its war against Latin American drug trafficking cartels.
However, the administration has not provided concrete evidence linking the targeted vessels to drug trafficking. International law experts and human rights groups have accused the Trump administration of conducting extrajudicial killings in international waters.
Critics argue these strikes often target civilians, specifically fishing crews, who do not present an immediate threat to the United States. Regional governments have also raised concerns regarding the legality of the operations.
