U.S. Military Strike on Drug Smuggling Boat in Pacific Raises Legal Questions

The U.S. military recently conducted a strike targeting a boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of three men. This incident marks the fourth such attack this week, bringing the total number of fatalities to 205. The U.S. Southern Command reported that the vessel was involved in narco-trafficking activities and operated by a recognized terrorist organization. However, no evidence was provided to support these claims.

These operations are part of an ongoing campaign against suspected drug trafficking routes in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific. Video footage released by the military shows a small vessel in the ocean before it is destroyed in an explosion.

The series of U.S. strikes commenced in early September, with recent attacks occurring on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. The death toll has slightly increased as some individuals initially reported as survivors have not been located.

In response to these strikes, the Trump administration declared an armed conflict against Latin American drug cartels, holding them responsible for the influx of drugs into the United States. The U.S. Southern Command stated that the recent strike was authorized by Gen. Francis L. Donovan, the leading U.S. commander in Latin America. Donovan also met with Cuban military officials near Guantanamo Bay prior to the strike.

The legality of these strikes has attracted scrutiny from experts. The White House confirmed a report that in the initial attack on September 2, a follow-up strike, referred to as a ‘double tap,’ killed two survivors from the first attack. Some lawmakers have raised concerns that this follow-on strike might qualify as a war crime.

Currently, only three known survivors from such strikes have been rescued. Two individuals were rescued from a ‘narco sub’ accused of drug transportation in October, subsequently repatriated to Ecuador and Colombia. Earlier, the U.S. Coast Guard recovered a survivor of a strike, transferring them to Costa Rican authorities.

Additionally, the families of two Trinidadian men killed in a U.S. missile strike in the Caribbean have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The lawsuit contends that the killings were premeditated and lacked any legal justification.