US Strikes Alleged Drug-Smuggling Boats In International Waters, 8 Killed

The United States military has carried out fresh strikes on boats it claims were being used for drug trafficking in international waters, killing at least eight people.

The strikes were conducted over two days and were confirmed by the US Southern Command, which oversees American military operations in Central and South America.

According to officials, the first set of strikes took place on Tuesday.

Three boats suspected of transporting narcotics were moving together as a convoy when they were targeted at sea.

The US military said three people on the first boat were killed during the initial strike. After that, people on the remaining two boats reportedly jumped into the water and moved away before further attacks sank the vessels.

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A video shared by the US Southern Command on social media shows the boats travelling closely together before being hit by multiple explosions.

However, the exact location of the strikes has not been disclosed. In earlier cases, similar operations have occurred in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The military said it informed the US Coast Guard to activate search and rescue operations, but did not provide details on whether survivors were found or rescued.

Hours later, the US Southern Command announced another set of strikes carried out on Wednesday. Two more boats were targeted, resulting in the deaths of five people. Once again, officials did not reveal where the strikes took place.

Since September, the US military says it has carried out more than 30 strikes against boats it believes are part of drug-smuggling networks heading toward the United States.

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However, critics point out that Washington has not shared clear evidence proving the boats were involved in illegal trafficking.

International law experts and human rights groups have raised concerns, warning that these strikes may amount to extrajudicial killings.

They argue that the people on board may be civilians and may not have posed an immediate threat to the US.

The strikes come amid growing tensions between Washington and Venezuela.

US President Donald Trump has accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of running a drug cartel, a claim Maduro strongly denies. The Venezuelan leader has instead accused the US of trying to destabilise his government to gain access to the country’s vast oil reserves.