“Two drug terrorists were killed in this operation targeting drug smuggling operations,” wrote the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) on the social network X.
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The footage attached to the post shows a boat speeding through dark waters, part of which was covered in the video before the strike. Then a large explosion is seen, after which burning debris of the boat floats in the water.
This latest strike was carried out after dozens of similar attacks during the U.S. military operation “Southern Spear,” during which at least 203 people have died at sea since September, according to calculations by the news agency AFP.
President Donald Trump claims that the U.S. is effectively at war with drug cartels operating in Latin America, but his administration has not provided conclusive evidence that the boats it struck are connected to drug smuggling.
Legal experts and human rights groups say these strikes could amount to extrajudicial killings, as they appear to have targeted civilians who do not pose a direct threat to the U.S.
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