On Saturday, the Pentagon conducted its 21st strike on an alleged drug-trafficing boat in the eastern Pacific, ending the lives of three individuals aboard.
This has now became the 21th known attack on drug boats by the U.S military since early September in what it has now been deemed as a ‘ justified effort ‘ to distrupt the flow of narcotics into U.S territory. killing more than 80 people in the process.
As quoted in a article by The Guardian, the U.S Southern Command spoke on the situation in a post on X, ” Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, transiting along a known narco-trafficing route, and carrying narcotics “ ( @Southcom, Nov, 16, 25 ).
The Justice Department has allegedly told Congress the administration isn’t in need of its approval to carry out these strikes, which sparked some debate on if this could potentially violate U.S and international law.
The ongoing campaign has also created tensions between allies.
As reported by CNN, the United Kingdom has stopped sharing information with the U.S. on suspected drug-trafficking boats in order to avoid being associated with the strikes altogether ( Maher, Nov, 16, 25 ).
The Trump administration, cited from The Guardian’s article on the topic once more, claims it has the legal authority to carry out these strikes, with the Justice Department argues that U.S military personnel who carry out the operations on any boats are oid from any prosecution ( Guardian staff and Agencies, Nov, 16, 25 ).
