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U.S. military destroys alleged drug boat in Pacific Ocean, killing 5 people
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- The U.S. military conducted a strike on an alleged drug-smuggling boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing five people, as part of the Trump administration's ongoing campaign against Latin American traffickers since September 2025.
- At least 240 people have died in over 70 U.S. military boat strikes targeting so-called "narcoterrorists," though the military has provided little evidence to confirm drug trafficking involvement in many cases.
- Critics question the legality and effectiveness of the strikes, noting that fentanyl overdoses in the U.S. largely stem from land trafficking through Mexico rather than maritime routes targeted by the military.
- Some Democratic lawmakers and military legal experts are scrutinizing the strikes, prompting a Pentagon watchdog review of targeting procedures, though the review will not assess the strikes' legality.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio has indicated a strategic shift toward seeking regional allies' approval for such strikes, while maintaining the option for unilateral military action when necessary.
