US forces conduct airstrikes against suspected drug trafficking boats in the Pacific

Since September 2025, U.S. forces have conducted a series of airstrikes in the eastern Pacific targeting vessels suspected of drug trafficking, an operation the Trump administration justifies as part of a war against drug cartels designated as terrorist organizations. On Wednesday, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) reported that two individuals were killed in an airstrike on a boat. On the preceding Tuesday, another strike resulted in one death, with two survivors reportedly left in the water. While SOUTHCOM claimed that the U.S. Coast Guard was notified to initiate search and rescue for survivors, the Coast Guard has not responded to inquiries regarding their status, and no survivors are visible in released footage. AFP reports a total death toll of at least 195 people since the campaign began. The administration has not publicly provided concrete evidence linking the targeted vessels to drug trafficking operations. The legitimacy of these lethal actions remains a subject of significant international scrutiny and controversy.