Six Suspected Drug Traffickers Killed in Two US Naval Strikes off South America
The US Department of Defense has announced that American forces carried out two lethal strikes on boats off the coast of South America, resulting in the deaths of six individuals suspected of drug trafficking.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that the operations were carried out under the orders of President Donald Trump in international waters in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean. According to Hegseth, each of the targeted vessels contained three men affiliated with drug cartels, all of whom were killed.
Hegseth added that the United States began a series of similar operations in early September as part of a campaign against groups Washington labels as “narco-terrorists.” These operations are being conducted along routes that, according to US officials, are commonly used for illegal drug transportation.
However, several human rights organizations and international law experts have expressed concern, suggesting that such actions could constitute “extrajudicial killings,” as Washington has yet to release clear evidence proving the targets were actively committing crimes or posed a direct threat to US security.
According to US officials, American forces sustained no casualties during the operations. Nonetheless, serious questions remain regarding the legal legitimacy of these actions and their human impact, particularly in light of the lack of transparency.
