US attack on alleged drug boat leaves 2 dead, 1 survivor
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- A U.S. military strike on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in the eastern Pacific resulted in two deaths and one survivor, with the Coast Guard recovering the bodies and survivor and transferring them to Costa Rican authorities.
- The attack is part of the Trump administration's intensified campaign against alleged drug traffickers in Latin America, with at least 159 deaths from similar strikes since early September.
- U.S. Southern Command stated the vessel targeted was along known smuggling routes but did not provide evidence that drugs were on board, releasing a video showing the vessel engulfed in flames.
- President Trump has characterized the situation as an "armed conflict" with Latin American cartels, justifying the strikes as necessary to reduce drug flow and overdose deaths
