In brief
The US Southern Command has confirmed that five individuals were killed in a drone strike targeting two boats suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean. This incident marks the continuation of the US's anti-drug operations which have been ongoing for several months. Legal experts are raising concerns over the legality of these strikes, particularly after the controversial 'double-tap' tactics used previously, which resulted in additional casualties. The US military insists that intelligence supports their claims about the involvement of the vessels in narco-trafficking.
The US military says it struck two boats it alleges were carrying drugs on Wednesday, killing five people on board.
US Southern Command did not specify the location of the latest strikes but has been targeting vessels suspected of smuggling narcotics to the Caribbean and eastern Pacific for the past three months.
This strike occurred a day after the US targeted a convoy of three narco-trafficking vessels, resulting in at least three deaths.
The Trump administration has characterized these operations as a non-international armed conflict against the alleged traffickers. However, legal experts have indicated that these actions may violate regulations governing such conflicts.
In total, there have been over 30 strikes as part of the Trump administration's "war on drugs," with more than 110 fatalities since the first operation commenced in international waters on September 2.
Particular scrutiny has been directed at the first attack due to the reported 'double-tap' strike, which killed two survivors clinging to their vessel after the initial bombing, eliciting concerns from lawmakers about potential breaches of the rules of engagement.
US Southern Command’s communication regarding the December 30 attack indicated that some individuals survived the strikes, but specifics on their number have not been disclosed. An anonymous US official noted that search efforts for eight survivors were underway, though their current status remains unclear.
The US has not provided conclusive evidence to support claims that the targeted boats were indeed carrying drugs. Nonetheless, Southern Command reiterated that intelligence verified the vessels' involvement in known narco-trafficking routes.
