• U.S. forces struck an alleged drug boat, marking the second such strike this year.
• The military claims the boat was linked to drug trafficking organizations.
• The operation is part of a broader campaign against narcotics in the region.
• Critics question the legality and justification for these strikes.

The U.S. military recently conducted a strike on a vessel in the Eastern Pacific, which it alleged was engaged in narco-trafficking, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. This operation, part of Joint Task Force Southern Spear, reflects ongoing military efforts against narcotics trafficking since early September, during which at least 38 such strikes have occurred, leading to 128 fatalities, according to CBS News, BBC, South China Morning Post, and Anadolu Agency.

On social media, U.S. Southern Command stated that the vessel was operating on known narcotic routes and claimed it was linked to designated terrorist organizations. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested that recent strikes had reportedly discouraged some drug-traffickers in the region from operations, although he did not provide evidence to support this claim, as reported by BBC and South China Morning Post.

Critics of the U.S. military's campaign, including legal experts and some lawmakers, have raised questions regarding the legality of such strikes, arguing that they may violate international law and due process. The controversy surrounding a previous strike on September 2, which resulted in civilian casualties, has intensified scrutiny of the administration's approach to narcotics enforcement, according to CBS News and Anadolu Agency.