US strikes drug boat in eastern Pacific; 2 dead, 1 survivor
US strikes drug boat in eastern Pacific; 2 dead, 1 survivor
Two men are killed and a survivor is rescued after a U.S. strike on an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific, as Washington expands its security push.
Two men have died and one survivor after a U.S. military strike on an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Friday. Footage released by U.S. Southern Command shows a dark, boat-shaped target before an explosion, followed by a column of fire rising from the sea. The Coast Guard was activated to Search and Rescue for the survivor.
The incident comes as the White House endorses a new counterterrorism strategy that prioritizes eliminating drug cartels in the Western Hemisphere. The effort, started earlier this year, involves destroying suspected drug-trafficking vessels across Latin American waters, including the eastern Pacific and the Caribbean. Critics have questioned the legality of the boat strikes, and casualty figures have climbed to at least 191, with some reports suggesting as many as 193.
Despite global tensions, the strikes have intensified, and Washington has pressed regional leaders to cooperate more closely and to take action against cartels and transnational gangs that pose a threat to the hemisphere’s security.
The U.S. Southern Command said it coordinated with the Coast Guard for search-and-rescue operations and continues monitoring the situation.
