US Military Conducts Third Deadly Boat Strike in Eastern Pacific
The US military announced it killed four individuals in a boat strike in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Tuesday, marking the third lethal attack on vessels in the region within four days.
The US Southern Command, responsible for military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, disclosed the incident via a social media post. The announcement claimed, without presenting evidence, that the men killed were "narco-terrorists."
Since September, US military boat strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 174 people.
Allegations and Legal Concerns Surrounding the Strikes
Military officials have consistently asserted that the targets of these lethal boat strikes were "engaged in narco-trafficking operations," though they have not provided intelligence or specific details about the individuals to substantiate these claims.
Legal experts and human rights advocates have repeatedly condemned the strikes as extrajudicial killings that violate both US and international law, emphasizing that the military cannot execute civilians accused of crimes without due process.
Details of the Latest Strike and Ongoing Military Statements
The US Southern Command's post on Tuesday included a blurry aerial video depicting a boat explosion. The statement alleged that "intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes."
The language used in this announcement closely mirrored the military's alert on Monday, which reported killing three individuals in a boat strike. On Sunday, the US Southern Command stated it had killed 167 people in similar strikes, with one survivor reported.
Political Context and International Reactions
Former President Donald Trump has justified these operations by claiming the US is engaged in an "armed conflict" with Latin American cartels. However, United Nations officials have clarified that international law does not permit the US to kill individuals accused solely of drug trafficking. They also noted the military has not provided evidence that those targeted posed an imminent threat to others' lives.
Legal Actions and Advocacy Responses
In January, lawyers filed a lawsuit against the US on behalf of the families of two men from a fishing village in Trinidad who were killed in an October strike on a small boat in the Caribbean. The lawsuit described the "premeditated and intentional killings" as lacking any plausible legal justification.
"The administration continues to push unsubstantiated, fear-mongering claims about who these people were, despite investigations showing that some of those killed were fishermen just trying to make a living for their families,"
the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) stated in December.
"The president was trying to set a precedent that it can redefine civilians as ‘combatants’ and ‘pretend he has the authority to grant advance immunity to federal officials for killing people,’"
the ACLU added.
Congressional Concerns and Calls for Accountability
Last month, Democratic Representatives Joaquin Castro and Sara Jacobs wrote to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, expressing concerns about the killings. They noted that the names and nationalities of most victims remain unknown.
"Each killing took place outside of any recognized armed conflict and without due process. We agree with the overwhelming consensus of legal experts: the administration has engaged in a prolonged campaign of extrajudicial killings, or, in simple terms, murders,"
the Congress members stated.
