Deadly Boat Strikes Widen US Drug War In The Pacific

The US military has carried out another lethal strike on an alleged drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific, killing two people and deepening controversy over a campaign that lawmakers and legal experts say rests on shaky ground.

According to US Southern Command, the strike took place on Thursday under the authority of its new commander, Gen. Francis L. Donovan, who assumed leadership of the command the same day. In a statement posted on X, SOUTHCOM said Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a “lethal kinetic strike” against a vessel it said was operated by “Designated Terrorist Organizations,” adding that no US personnel were injured.