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US Launches Deadly Strike on Alleged Drug Boat, Believed to Be the First in Two Months
Two people were killed in the latest US strike on an alleged drug boat, which officials said was the first known attack in more than two months.
On Sunday, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere executed a lethal strike on a vessel in the Eastern Pacific, killing two people and marking the first known strike since June 21.
The military launched "Operation Southern Spear" in September 2025, claiming an "armed conflict" against cartels; prior to the pause, the campaign destroyed at least 67 vessels and killed at least 221 people.
Earlier this month, Virginia Democrat Tim Kaine urged the White House to cease what he called an "illegal, costly and ineffective" operation, citing classified information that strikes likely killed "individuals who are not involved in narcotrafficking."
Monday, SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan stated, "We are committed to imposing total systemic friction on narco-terrorists," while the administration labels those killed "unlawful combatants" under classified Justice Department findings.
Legal experts and rights groups suggest the strikes could amount to extrajudicial killings, as the administration has not provided evidence linking vessels to trafficking. Some members of Congress continue questioning the strategy.