The United States military said on Friday it carried out a strike on a vessel in the Eastern Pacific, killing two people, in what it described as an operation against “narco-terrorists” — a claim strongly disputed by rights groups.
In a statement, United States Southern Command said the targeted vessel was allegedly linked to “Designated Terrorist Organizations,” though it did not name any specific group. It added that no US personnel were harmed and identified those killed only as “male narco-terrorists,” without providing further details.
According to the command, intelligence indicated the vessel was moving along known drug trafficking routes and was involved in narcotics operations. A brief video released on social media showed the moment the vessel was struck at sea.
The strike is the latest in a series of similar operations in the region under the administration of Donald Trump, which has intensified military action against suspected drug trafficking networks. Since September, such strikes have reportedly resulted in more than 170 deaths.
However, the campaign has drawn sharp criticism from international and domestic rights organizations. Groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have condemned the attacks as “unlawful extrajudicial killings,” raising concerns over the absence of due process and transparency.
Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union has accused the administration of relying on “unsubstantiated, fear-mongering claims” to justify the strikes, further fueling debate over their legality and accountability.
Comments are closed.