• The US military struck two alleged drug boats in the eastern Pacific, killing six individuals on board.
• Critics, including human rights leaders, are calling for investigations into the legality of the strikes.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed the boats were carrying narcotics and affiliated with designated terrorist organizations.

The United States military conducted strikes against two alleged drug-carrying vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Sunday, resulting in six deaths, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He stated that these vessels were associated with "illicit narcotics smuggling" and were transiting along a well-known trafficking route in international waters, which has prompted calls for investigations into the legality of these operations. Since September, the US has reportedly killed over 70 individuals in a series of similar strikes, as part of a broader military initiative in the region aimed at curbing drug trafficking, according to South China Morning Post and CBS News.

Hegseth noted that the strikes occurred in international waters and that no US forces were harmed during the operations. Each boat was said to have three "male narco-terrorists" on board. However, critics argue that the absence of evidence regarding the identities of those killed, or their involvement in narcotics trafficking, raises serious concerns. The Pentagon chief justified the operations by stating that they protect the homeland from threats posed by drug cartels, which the administration has designated as terrorist organizations, according to The Hill and Al Jazeera.

The operations have sparked significant criticism, with the United Nations' human rights chief labeling the strikes as potentially unlawful extrajudicial killings. Volker Turk has called for investigations into the operations, emphasizing that the high casualty rate among individuals whose involvement in drug trafficking has not been substantiated is unacceptable under international law. Turk has urged the US to cease these attacks, which are reportedly being conducted without concrete proof of the alleged criminal conduct, according to CBS News and Al Jazeera.

As the US expands its military presence in the Caribbean and Pacific, tensions with Venezuela, whose government has labeled the strikes as acts of aggression, are rising. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro accused the US administration of attempting to destabilize his government, a narrative echoed by experts warning of possible legal ramifications for the ongoing military operations. These developments are reflective of a broader strategy by the Trump administration, which has characterized Venezuelan officials as narco-terrorists and justified military actions under the guise of protecting national security, as detailed by The Hill and South China Morning Post.