The U.S. military conducted a naval strike on a ship accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in two deaths and an ongoing search for one survivor.
The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) stated that intelligence confirmed the vessel traveled along a well-known drug trafficking route and was involved in drug trade operations before being struck in international Pacific waters.
A video released by SOUTHCOM on social media shows a multi-engine boat exploding and engulfed in flames, serving as evidence of the strike under a U.S. government policy described as part of efforts to curb maritime drug trafficking.
This operation marks the first military strike in the Pacific region since the U.S. detained Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in a raid in Caracas earlier this January, a move that sparked international political and legal controversy.
Although the U.S. government labeled the targets as "narco-terrorists," no clear evidence has been disclosed confirming that the items on the vessel were drugs, leading international law experts and human rights groups to question whether the strike may constitute extrajudicial killing.
In addition to this strike, the U.S. is preparing to host a meeting of military leaders from 34 Western Hemisphere countries in Washington on 11 Feb 2024 GMT+7, aimed at strengthening security cooperation and combating transnational crime, with a key focus on countering drug trafficking and threats to regional stability.
Source:channelnewsasia
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