In a recent development, a boat strike in the eastern Pacific Ocean has resulted in a grim outcome. According to a survivor's account, two individuals lost their lives during the incident. This tragic event marks the latest in a series of boat strikes carried out by the United States in international waters, with a total of 36 bombings since President Donald Trump's campaign began on September 2. The Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific have borne the brunt of these attacks, claiming an estimated 125 lives, including the two recent victims.
The US Southern Command, responsible for overseeing operations in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean Sea, reported that one survivor remains unaccounted for. The command also notified the US Coast Guard to initiate search and rescue operations. On January 23, the Joint Task Force Southern Spear, under the direction of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, executed a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessel's involvement in narco-trafficking activities along known routes in the Eastern Pacific.
This deadly strike is the first of its kind in 2026, following a previous attack on December 31. It also coincides with the US's full-scale military operation in Venezuela, aimed at removing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who are now in federal custody in Brooklyn, New York, facing narcotics trafficking charges. Trump's aggressive actions in Latin America have sparked concern among world leaders and human rights advocates, who compare these boat bombings to extrajudicial killings.
The treatment of survivors during these strikes has raised further alarm. In an October 27 attack, a survivor went missing and is presumed dead. During a December 30 strike, eight survivors abandoned their vessels and jumped overboard before their boats were sunk in a second strike, never to be found. The first strike in the series, on September 2, resulted in two previously unknown survivors who were later killed in a follow-up 'double-tap' strike, sparking controversy and calls for transparency.
The Trump administration's legal justification for these actions is questionable. They have accused the boat occupants of being drug traffickers, but have failed to provide evidence. In October, the White House notified Congress that the US was engaged in an 'armed conflict' with drug traffickers, described as 'unlawful combatants'. However, drug trafficking, while a crime under international law, does not constitute armed aggression. Experts warn that these killings could amount to international crimes, as they lack a proper legal process.
The US faces additional scrutiny over the conduct of these strikes. A report in The New York Times revealed that the aircraft in the September 2 attack was disguised as a civilian plane, which could be considered 'perfidy' under international law. The lack of public identification of victims further raises concerns. Families from countries like Colombia and Trinidad and Tobago have disputed the claims, insisting that their loved ones were fishermen, not drug traffickers. In December, the family of a missing fisherman filed an international complaint against the US, appealing to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for an investigation and compensation.
