By Blessing Nweke
The U.S. military carried out another strike on a vessel suspected of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, killing two men as the Trump administration intensifies its campaign against Latin American cartels.
United States Southern Command released video footage on social media showing a small boat floating in open waters moments before a powerful explosion engulfed it. The final seconds of the clip showed thick smoke and flames rising from the destroyed vessel.
The latest strike came just one day after U.S. forces targeted another alleged drug-smuggling boat in the same region, killing one person and leaving two survivors. Southern Command said it alerted the United States Coast Guard to begin search-and-rescue operations for those who survived the earlier attack.
Since early September, the Trump administration has expanded military operations in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean Sea, arguing that aggressive action is needed to combat drug cartels blamed for deadly overdoses across the United States. According to available figures, at least 196 people have been killed during the campaign.
The military has not publicly presented evidence showing that the targeted vessels were carrying narcotics, prompting criticism from some Democratic lawmakers and military legal scholars.
Last week, the Pentagon inspector general announced a review into whether the military followed established targeting procedures during the operations. The inquiry, described as “self-initiated,” will examine compliance with the six-phase Joint Targeting Cycle but will not address the legality of the strikes themselves.
Original article
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