Eight people died after the US military launched airstrikes on boats it accused of drug trafficking in the Pacific Ocean, according to News reports citing the US Southern Command.
US Shares Footage of Military Operation
The US Southern Command released video footage on social media showing strikes on three vessels. Officials said the boats were moving through known drug smuggling routes and actively transporting illegal narcotics.
Meanwhile, these strikes form part of a wider US campaign targeting maritime drug trafficking. Over the past few months, US forces have struck more than 20 vessels across the Pacific and Caribbean. As a result, at least 90 people have died under President Donald Trump’s intensified effort to disrupt criminal networks supplying drugs to the United States.
Legal Questions Raised Over “Double-Tap” Strike
However, the operation has sparked serious legal concerns. In particular, experts questioned a strike carried out on 2 September. That incident involved two attacks on the same boat within a short period.
According to investigators, survivors from the first strike died during the second attack. Several international law experts told News investigators that the second strike likely violated international law. They said it could qualify as an extrajudicial killing.
Furthermore, legal analysts warned that the broader campaign may breach the laws of armed conflict. They argued that the strikes target alleged civilians during peacetime rather than combatants in war.
Previously, a former chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court described the campaign as a planned and systematic attack on civilians. He said it did not meet the standards of a lawful military operation.
White House Pushes Back Against Criticism
In response, the White House strongly defended the strikes. Officials said US forces acted within the laws of armed conflict. They argued the operations aimed to protect Americans from drug cartels that continue to flood the country with narcotics.
At the same time, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to brief members of Congress alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio. According to Politico, lawmakers will soon view footage of the controversial “double-tap” strike. Meanwhile, pressure continues to mount on Hegseth to release the video publicly.
Growing US-Venezuela Tensions
The strikes also come as tensions rise between Washington and Caracas. The Trump administration has accused Venezuela of facilitating drug trafficking into the US. Consequently, it has increased diplomatic and military pressure on President Nicolás Maduro.
Notably, the US has designated two Venezuelan criminal groups — Tren de Aragua and the Cartel de los Soles — as foreign terrorist organisations. In addition, thousands of US troops and the USS Gerald Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, now operate within striking distance of Venezuela.
Oil Tanker Seizure and Fentanyl Decision
Earlier this month, US forces seized an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast. Officials claimed the vessel supported an illicit oil network involving Venezuela and Iran. In response, Venezuelan officials condemned the move as “international piracy.” They also accused President Trump of seeking control over Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
Meanwhile, as part of his wider anti-drug campaign, Trump has officially designated fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction. The drug remains the leading cause of overdose deaths across the United States.
