A U.S. military operation in the eastern Pacific left two people dead after forces targeted a boat believed to be tied to drug trafficking routes, according to official statements released Thursday. The strike was carried out in international waters, an area the military says is commonly used by narcotics networks moving drugs north.
U.S. Southern Command said the vessel was identified during routine monitoring and assessed as part of an illegal trafficking operation. The military reported that no U.S. personnel were injured during the action. Details about the identities of those killed or the specific cargo aboard the boat were not released.
The strike follows a series of similar operations conducted over recent months as part of a broader effort to disrupt maritime drug smuggling. Military officials say these missions focus on vessels that refuse to comply with orders to stop or are deemed to pose a threat.
The incident comes as questions continue to surface from international observers and legal experts about the rules governing the use of force at sea. U.S. officials maintain the actions are lawful and aimed at curbing organized drug trafficking operations.
