The U.S. military sank two suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Thursday, resulting in five fatalities according to a statement from U.S. Southern Command.
According to the announcement by the Department of Defense’s Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), the strikes have brought the total number of boat sinkings in the Caribbean and Pacific regions to 28, with the administration identifying at least 104 individuals as “narco-terrorists” killed.
President Donald Trump has justified the operations as necessary to stem the flow of drugs into the United States, maintaining that the country is engaged in an armed conflict with cartels.
In a Thursday news release, SOUTHCOM stated that the actions were conducted under the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth by Joint Task Force Southern Spear. Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and were active in drug trafficking operations. The strikes resulted in three deaths on the first vessel and two on the second.
This marks the third strike this week in the eastern Pacific against suspected drug boats, following Monday’s operation that killed eight alleged “narco-terrorists” and Wednesday’s action that claimed four lives.
The Trump administration is under congressional scrutiny, particularly from Democrats, over these operations. The criticism arose from a September 2 strike in the Caribbean where two survivors were killed in a follow-up attack.
Retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Berney Flowers stated on December 7 that the secondary strike was conducted within established rules of engagement. Republican lawmakers indicated they would suspend any further inquiries into the specific strike.
