US strike on alleged drug boat in eastern Pacific kills two as survivors reported

The United States military says it has carried out another strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing at least two people. US Southern Command said the vessel was operating along a known drug-smuggling route when it was hit. The command also said there were six male survivors and that it had notified the US Coast Guard.

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The attack took place on Sunday and was disclosed in a post on Monday. SOUTHCOM did not provide details on how the survivors were rescued or what condition they were in. It also did not present evidence that the boat was carrying narcotics.

Grainy black-and-white video released with the post showed a boat moving through the water before being struck by a projectile and engulfed in an explosion. The latest strike brings the number of vessels hit to more than 60 since the start of the operation known as Southern Spear in September. According to the military, more than 210 people have been killed in the campaign so far.

A similar incident on June 16 also involved reported survivors, and the Coast Guard later suspended its search after saying there were no signs of survivors or debris. The campaign has become politically and legally contentious. President Donald Trump has described the United States as being in an armed conflict with Latin American cartels and has said the attacks are needed to reduce drug overdoses in the US.

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Critics have questioned both the legal basis and the effectiveness of the strikes, including whether they are targeting the routes most associated with drugs entering the country. The broader debate has also focused on the rules governing the use of force at sea and the evidence used to justify each strike. Lawmakers have already demanded unedited video of the first attack after reports that a follow-up strike was carried out on survivors of an earlier incident.

The White House has said that action was taken in self-defence and in line with the laws of armed conflict, while some legal scholars have argued that a second strike on survivors would be unlawful. What remains unclear is the fate of the six survivors reported in the latest incident and whether any evidence will be released to support the military's account. It is also not known whether the Coast Guard has taken custody of anyone from the boat.

The next developments are likely to centre on any official rescue update, further Pentagon explanation, and renewed scrutiny from lawmakers over the campaign's legal basis.

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