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U.S. Military Says Eastern Pacific Strike Killed Three on Suspected Smuggling Route

The administration casts the campaign as an armed conflict with Latin American cartels.

Overview

  • The U.S. military reported attacking a vessel in the eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of three men.
  • Officials said the boat was traveling along a route known for drug smuggling.
  • Since autumn last year, U.S. forces have struck more than 40 boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, with at least 145 deaths reported.
  • Relatives of those killed have sued the government, and critics say authorities have not provided conclusive proof the victims were traffickers.
  • Questions over the legality of lethal force in international waters and rising scrutiny in Congress, including from some Republicans, continue.