U.S. military sinks vessel, two killed, one survivor
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Washington: On Friday, U.S. Southern Command said U.S. forces struck and sank an alleged drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific, killing two people and leaving one survivor. The command said intelligence had confirmed the vessel was transiting known narco-trafficking routes and was operated by designated terrorist organizations, and it described those killed as male narco-terrorists. The statement said no U.S. military forces were harmed in the action and identified one person who survived the strike.
The May 8 incident came amid a broader U.S. campaign against suspected drug-trafficking vessels. Since early September, the U.S. military has conducted more than 50 known lethal airstrikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats in the region, and the command said those operations have claimed nearly 200 lives in total.
More context
Timeline
- 1. Since early September, U.S. forces began striking suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
- 2. Over the following months, the U.S. carried out more than 50 known lethal strikes against alleged smuggling boats.
- 3. AFP and other tallies tracked casualties rising to roughly 189–192 deaths from those operations.
- 4. On May 8, U.S. Southern Command reported a strike that sank a boat, killed two, and left one survivor.
- 5. The Coast Guard was notified and Mexican naval forces were reported to be involved in the survivor search.
Why it matters
This is part of a wider U.S. campaign against drug trafficking. It's about safety and security. Your tax dollars are funding these operations. If you're curious, you can track the Southern Command's updates online.
Sources
JQJO Editorial Desk · Human reviewed · AI assisted. Report a correction.
