US Military Strikes Kill 11 in Drug-Trafficking Vessels
The US military has carried out three strikes against alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, killing 11 people. According to US Southern Command, the strikes were part of Operation Southern Spear, targeting vessels transiting along known narco-trafficking routes.
The strikes, carried out late Monday, resulted in the deaths of four men on the first vessel in the Eastern Pacific, four on the second vessel in the same region, and three on the third vessel in the Caribbean. The US military has been conducting these operations since September, resulting in at least 145 deaths.
The Trump administration has been criticized for its handling of the situation, with legal experts condemning the campaign as a series of extrajudicial killings. According to international law experts, the US is not in a declared war with drug cartels, and the use of lethal military force against criminal activity is unjustified.
The United Nations has called for the US to cease the military strikes, warning of potential violations of the UN Charter. Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, stated that none of the individuals on the targeted boats posed an imminent threat to others, justifying the use of lethal force.
Families in Colombia and Trinidad and Tobago have come forward to claim the victims as their loved ones, identifying them as fishermen or temporary workers. Some families have taken legal action, pushing for justice and answers.
The US military’s actions have sparked intense scrutiny and debate, raising questions about the legality and morality of using military force against suspected drug traffickers.
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Author: Korkor Anumu
