A U.S. military operation in the Caribbean resulted in the deaths of two people after forces targeted a vessel that officials said was connected to drug trafficking activity in the region.
According to a statement from U.S. Southern Command, the vessel was traveling along routes known for narcotics smuggling when it was struck during the operation. Military officials said intelligence indicated the boat was actively involved in trafficking operations and alleged that it was being operated by members of designated terrorist organizations.
The command said no U.S. personnel were injured during the mission. The two people killed were described by the military as male suspects linked to narcotics trafficking activities.
Six other men survived the strike. U.S. Southern Command said it notified the U.S. Coast Guard to assist with search and rescue efforts involving those individuals.
The operation highlights an approach that has drawn attention from legal and human rights groups in recent years. Critics have questioned the use of military force against suspected drug trafficking vessels, describing some actions as extrajudicial killings. U.S. officials, meanwhile, have defended such operations as part of efforts to combat transnational criminal networks involved in narcotics trafficking.