• The U.S. military conducted a strike on a drug-smuggling boat, resulting in two deaths.
• This operation is part of a broader campaign initiated by the Trump administration aimed at disrupting drug trafficking.
• Critics raise concerns about the legality of these military strikes, citing potential violations of international law.

The U.S. military launched a strike on Friday against a boat accused of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific, resulting in two deaths, according to CBS News. U.S. Southern Command reported that the boat was operating along known narcotics smuggling routes and was engaged in drug trafficking activities. A video shared by Southern Command showed the vessel exploding in flames after the strike.

This incident marks the latest action in a series of military strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats initiated by the Trump administration since September, with at least 183 casualties recorded to date, reports BBC and Los Angeles Times. Despite the high number of casualties cited, the military has not provided concrete evidence that the targeted vessels were actually carrying drugs.

Many legal experts and human rights organizations have criticized these operations as potentially extrajudicial killings that could violate international law, highlighting the lack of due process provided to those targeted, according to BBC and Los Angeles Times. The Trump administration has defended the actions as part of a necessary escalation to combat drug trafficking and asserted that those involved are treated as combatants in an armed conflict with drug cartels.