US Navy conducts operation targeting suspected narcotics vessels off coast

US Military Conducts Attack on Alleged Drug Smuggling Boats

The US military has confirmed that it killed at least five people in an attack on alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. The incident brings the total number of known boat strikes to 33, resulting in at least 112 reported fatalities since early September.

According to a statement by US Southern Command, the boats were traveling in a close formation along known narco-trafficking routes when they were targeted. The military claimed that the vessels had transferred narcotics between three vessels prior to the strikes.

The attack resulted in the deaths of three individuals on one vessel and two more on another. Two people are believed to have been killed in a follow-up strike. The US Coast Guard has been notified to activate its Search and Rescue system, with a C-130 aircraft deployed to search for survivors.

This incident is part of an ongoing effort by the US military to combat narco-trafficking in the region. In recent months, the Trump administration has authorized increased military presence and operations in Venezuela, where it accuses President Nicolas Maduro of involvement in narco-terrorism.

The US Coast Guard is working with vessels in the area to locate survivors, while Mexican authorities have also launched a search and rescue effort. The incident marks the latest in a series of attacks on alleged drug smuggling boats, which has resulted in significant loss of life.

Source: Al Jazeera