US Southern Command struck a vessel in the eastern Pacific on Monday, killing two people accused of trafficking drugs, in the first such attack after a pause of more than two months.
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Key facts
- The strike killed two people accused of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
- It was the first attack in more than two months after a pause in the campaign.
- The overall death toll now stands at 223 people killed in 67 strikes.
- The nearly year-long campaign has destroyed 64 speedboats, three 'low-profile' ships and a semisubmersible craft.
The US military announced on Monday that it carried out a strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people accused of trafficking drugs, according to the Guardian. The attack came after a pause of more than two months in the campaign.
US Southern Command said the strike brings the overall death toll to 223 people killed in 67 strikes during the nearly year-long US campaign, the Guardian reported.
The campaign has targeted alleged drug boats off Latin America’s Caribbean coast and in the eastern Pacific Ocean, according to the report.
US Southern Command says the operation has resulted in the destruction of 64 speedboats, three ‘low-profile’ ships and a semisubmersible craft, the Guardian reported.
The resumption of strikes marks a return to a campaign that had been paused for more than two months, according to the outlet.
Why it matters
The strike signals the continuation of a sustained US military campaign against alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the region. With a death toll now at 223 people across 67 strikes, the operation raises significant questions about the scale and legal basis of the US approach to countering drug trafficking at sea.
Frequently asked questions
How many people have been killed in the US campaign?
According to the Guardian, the overall death toll has reached 223 people killed in 67 strikes during the nearly year-long campaign.
How long had the campaign been paused before this strike?
The Guardian reports the strike came after a pause of more than two months, making it the first attack in months.
What types of vessels has the campaign destroyed?
US Southern Command says the campaign has destroyed 64 speedboats, three 'low-profile' ships and a semisubmersible craft, according to the Guardian.
Timeline
- US strikes a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing 2 people in first attack in months
The Guardian World: US Southern Command has struck another vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing two accused of trafficking drugs After a pause of more than two months, the US military announced Monday that it once again carried out a strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two peo