US strikes a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing 2

Key Points:

• The U.S. military conducted a strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two individuals accused of drug trafficking, marking the first such attack in about two months.
• The nearly yearlong U.S. campaign targeting drug-trafficking boats has resulted in over 210 deaths from more than 60 strikes off Latin America’s Caribbean coast and eastern Pacific Ocean.
• The Pentagon has not provided evidence that the targeted vessels were carrying drugs, and critics question the legality and effectiveness of the strikes, especially as much fentanyl is trafficked over land from Mexico.
• The Trump administration is seeking to expand military operations on land in Latin America through agreements with allied nations, though some countries, like Guatemala, have denied such deals.
• President Trump describes the campaign as an “armed conflict” with cartels aimed at curbing drug flow and overdoses in the U.S., but critics and lawmakers remain skeptical about the justification and impact of these strikes.