The U.S. military killed five people in a boat strike in the eastern Pacific
The U.S. military said a strike Tuesday on an alleged drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific killed five people. U.S. Southern Command described those killed as “narco-terrorists,” but the military provided no evidence that the vessel was carrying drugs. Al Jazeera said the strike brought the reported campaign death toll to 243; rights groups have condemned the strikes as extrajudicial killings.
More context
The U.S. military said it struck a boat it accused of drug smuggling in the eastern Pacific on Tuesday, killing five people. U.S. Southern Command said Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere carried out a “lethal, kinetic strike” on a go-fast vessel traveling along established narco-trafficking routes. SOUTHCOM said intelligence showed the vessel was actively involved in trafficking and described those killed as “narco-terrorists.” The military did not provide evidence that the boat was carrying drugs. A video posted with SOUTHCOM’s announcement showed a small boat before it was enveloped by an explosion. Al Jazeera said Tuesday’s strike appeared to bring the reported total killed in the campaign to 243. Legal scholars and rights groups have condemned the campaign as extrajudicial killings, while relatives of some people killed have said they were fishermen or workers uninvolved in drug trafficking.
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Reporting
- Al Jazeera — US says it killed five people in strike on alleged drug boat | Military News | Al Jazeera
- Stars and Stripes — US forces strike suspected drug boat in Eastern Pacific, killing 5 | Stars and Stripes
- Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha — US says five dead in strike on alleged drug-smuggling boat
- The Guardian — US military says strike on alleged drug vessel in eastern Pacific kills five people
- PBS News (with Associated Press) — U.S. military says 5 were killed by a strike on an alleged drug smuggling boat in the eastern Pacific | PBS News
Verifier’s note
Al Jazeera, Stars and Stripes, BSS, the Guardian, and PBS all report that the U.S. military said a strike on an alleged drug-smuggling boat in the eastern Pacific killed five people. Their reports were published on October 27, consistent with the proposed event’s timing.