The US military sank three boats suspected of drug trafficking, killing 11 alleged traffickers. Criticism regarding the legality and effectiveness of these actions persists.

The United States military announced on Tuesday that it had carried out attacks on three boats suspected of drug trafficking in the waters of Latin America, resulting in the deaths of 11 people. Since the beginning of this campaign, the total number of victims has reached at least 145. The attacks targeted boats on known smuggling routes, but without clear evidence that they were transporting drugs.

President Trump justified the attacks as necessary to combat drug cartels, while critics question the legality and effectiveness of these actions, pointing out that fentanyl, responsible for many overdoses, is often transported overland from Mexico. The attacks were also criticized after it was discovered that the military killed survivors of the first attack in a follow-up strike. Although many Democrats contest these actions, their efforts to restrict the attacks have been unsuccessful in Congress.