US Military Strikes Kill Eight in Eastern Pacific, Amid Rising Scrutiny
In the latest series of strikes against alleged drug trafficking vessels, the US Southern Command announced that eight individuals had been killed. The targeted boats were reportedly operating along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific. The attacks, which were conducted on three vessels, came amid escalating scrutiny over such strikes and the abrupt retirement of the SOUTHCOM commander.
Background and Context
US military operations in the Eastern Pacific and the Caribbean Sea have heightened in recent months, under the leadership of Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey, head of the US Southern Command. The Trump administration's efforts to combat the influx of drugs into the US have led to aggressive operations against alleged drug trafficking organizations like Tren de Aragua and Sinaloa, designated as terrorist groups by the government.
President Trump's anti-narcotics campaign has seen more than 20 strikes on vessels in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela. The strikes have resulted in at least 95 deaths since their inception.
The Recent Strike
On Dec. 15, the US Southern Command carried out lethal kinetic strikes
on three vessels, operated by what it designated as terrorist organizations, in international waters. According to the US military, intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were engaged in narco-trafficking.
The strikes resulted in the deaths of eight male individuals, with three killed in the first vessel, two in the second, and three in the third.
Escalating Scrutiny and Retirement of SOUTHCOM Commander
The recent strikes come amid growing scrutiny over the military's operations in the region. The abrupt retirement of Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey, who announced in October that he would retire from the military as operations heated up in the region, has added fuel to the fire. The scrutiny of the boat strikes is also intensifying in the US Congress.
Implications and Reactions
The increasing military presence and the aggressive approach to combating drug trafficking have stirred controversy. Critics have questioned the legality and the efficacy of such strikes, especially given the rising death toll. The lack of evidence provided by the US military regarding the alleged drug trafficking activities of the targeted vessels has also raised concerns.
Conclusion
As the US continues to ramp up its military operations in the Eastern Pacific, the death toll rises, and so does the scrutiny. The recent strikes and the abrupt retirement of the SOUTHCOM commander have brought the operations under a sharper spotlight. As the situation unfolds, the world watches closely, waiting to see the next developments in this controversial campaign.