U.S. Southern Command conducts airstrikes on vessels in the Eastern Pacific

U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) reported airstrikes conducted on May 29 and throughout the weekend against high-speed vessels in the Eastern Pacific. Officials stated that these strikes, led by Joint Task Force Southern Spear under the direction of General Francis L. Donovan, targeted boats involved in alleged narcotics trafficking. According to the military, three individuals were killed in each of the two recent incidents. The military released video footage to support its claims, labeling those killed as narco-terrorists. Since September, SOUTHCOM reports dozens of similar operations in the Caribbean and Pacific, resulting in over 200 total fatalities. Critics and news reports note that Washington has not provided public evidence confirming the illicit nature of all targeted vessels. The ongoing military actions continue to be a subject of international scrutiny regarding the verification of targets.