US Military Strike on Alleged Drug Boats Kills Five, Raising Legal Concerns
The U.S. military reported that a recent strike on two boats suspected of carrying drugs resulted in the deaths of five people. According to U.S. Southern Command, the strike occurred on Wednesday as part of ongoing efforts targeting vessels allegedly smuggling narcotics through the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
This latest action follows a previous strike on Tuesday, where the U.S. military targeted what it described as "three narco-trafficking vessels travelling as a convoy," resulting in at least three deaths.
These strikes are part of a broader campaign by the U.S. military, which has conducted over 30 strikes on vessels in international waters suspected of drug trafficking, resulting in over 110 deaths. These actions, framed as part of the "war on drugs" by the Trump administration, are now facing scrutiny from lawmakers and legal experts.
Concerns have been raised regarding potential violations of international laws governing armed conflicts, particularly regarding the targeting of survivors in what some sources have termed "double-tap" strikes. The legality of these actions under international law is being questioned.
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