US boat strike kills three as campaign toll rises

The latest attack brings the death toll from the ongoing campaign to at least 185 following a series of similar strikes in recent months.

The US Southern Command said on X that the vessel was “operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations” and was travelling along known drug-trafficking routes, based on intelligence assessments.

However, the Trump administration has not provided conclusive evidence that the targeted vessels were involved in drug trafficking, prompting debate over the legality of the operations.

Legal experts and rights groups have raised concerns that the strikes may constitute extrajudicial killings, arguing they appear to target civilians who do not pose an immediate threat.