Four killed in latest US strike on alleged drug boat

At least four men died after United States military forces launched an airstrike on a small boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean — the latest in a series of attacks targeting vessels suspected of drug trafficking.

The destroyed vessel, described by the US as a “narco-trafficking boat,” was reportedly transiting along a known smuggling route while carrying illegal narcotics. According to officials, this is the 22nd such strike since the campaign began in September 2025 — bringing the total number of people killed to at least 87.

A video released by the military shows the vessel slowly moving across the water before a sudden explosion engulfs it in flames and smoke.

The operation is part of what the administration calls a broader effort to dismantle transnational narcotics trafficking. However, the campaign has drawn heavy criticism. Lawmakers and legal experts have raised concerns over the strikes’ legality — particularly the risk of extrajudicial killings when strikes target vessels suspected of transporting drugs rather than confirmed combatants.

Meanwhile, the controversy deepened after a previous incident on September 2, when a strike killed 11 people and reportedly a follow-up missile hit survivors adrift in the water. Critics argue that firing on shipwrecked individuals violates international law and the principles laid out in the US Department of Defense’s own “Law of War” manual.