US Military Conducts Strike in Eastern Pacific, Resulting in Three Fatalities

US Military Conducts Strike in Eastern Pacific, Killing Three People

A strike by the US military in the Eastern Pacific region has resulted in the deaths of three people, according to a statement released by US Southern Command on Wednesday. The target of the attack was a vessel operated by “Designated Terrorist Organizations” that were reportedly transiting along known narco-trafficking routes.

The US military shared footage of the air strike, which appeared to have damaged the vessel and caused it to burst into flames. No personnel from the US forces were injured during the operation.

This incident is part of a series of strikes carried out by the US military in recent months, targeting vessels accused of narco-trafficking. Since September, at least 178 people have been killed as a result of these attacks.

The US government claims that the strikes are aimed at disrupting Latin American cartels transporting drugs to the United States. However, human rights organizations and experts have questioned the legality of the strikes, with some arguing that they amount to “unlawful extrajudicial killings”.

In response to criticism, Human Rights Watch stated that individuals accused of smuggling drugs should face the law, rather than deadly attacks. The American Civil Liberties Union has also expressed concerns about the Trump administration’s claims against those targeted by the strikes.

The US military operation is part of an ongoing effort to address the issue of narcotics entering the United States. However, some have questioned the effectiveness of this approach, particularly in light of the fact that fentanyl, a major contributor to fatal overdoses in the US, is typically trafficked over land from Mexico.

Source: Al Jazeera