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U.S. Reports Four Killed in Latest Pacific Strike on Suspected Smuggling Boat

The operation underscores the Trump administration's claim of wartime authority to hit cartel-linked vessels without court review.

Overview

  • U.S. Southern Command said a new strike in the eastern Pacific destroyed a suspected drug-smuggling boat and killed four people.
  • The command, which reported two strikes Saturday, said five people were killed and one person survived those earlier attacks.
  • At least 15 people have survived previous strikes, with some briefly detained by the U.S. Navy and later returned to their countries.
  • Official announcements and search-and-rescue records indicate at least 174 deaths and 52 vessels destroyed since September 2025.
  • The administration cites a classified Justice Department opinion for lethal authority without court review, while lawmakers and rights groups note no public proof the boats carried drugs or had cartel ties and urge judicial process.