News|Donald TrumpOne survivor reported, two killed in US boat strike in the eastern PacificThe latest bombing brings the total death toll from US boat strikes to 125 since September, raising human rights concerns.
## US Military Operation in Eastern Pacific
US Military Operation in Eastern Pacific
The US administration has announced a recent military operation in international waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in two fatalities. This operation marks the 36th such military action since the commencement of the campaign on September 2. An estimated 125 individuals have been killed in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific, including the two most recent casualties.
The US Southern Command, responsible for operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean, reported that one survivor remains unaccounted for. The US Coast Guard has been notified to initiate search-and-rescue operations.
On January 23, under the directive of the Secretary of Defense, Joint Task Force Southern Spear executed a lethal 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 strike is the first of its kind in 2026, following a previous operation on December 31, 2025. It is also the first incident of its nature since the US military operation in Venezuela on January 3, which resulted in the detention of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife on charges of narcotics trafficking.
Concerns have been raised regarding the treatment of survivors during these operations. In an incident on October 27, one survivor went missing and is presumed dead. During a December 30 operation, eight individuals abandoned their vessel before a subsequent strike, yet were not located by the US Coast Guard.
The US administration has announced a recent military operation in international waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in two fatalities.
In November, reports emerged that a strike on September 2 resulted in two survivors who were later killed in a follow-up strike. This has led to bipartisan criticism and calls for the release of video evidence of the incident.
On October 16, two survivors from a targeted submersible vessel were repatriated to their home countries without charges due to insufficient evidence.
The US administration has labeled the individuals on these vessels as drug traffickers without providing evidence. In October, it was noted that an armed conflict with drug traffickers had been declared, identifying them as unlawful combatants. However, drug trafficking under international law is not considered an act of armed aggression.
UN experts have expressed concerns that these operations may constitute unlawful killings, violating international human rights laws that prohibit arbitrary deprivation of life. Legal challenges are ongoing, with organizations seeking the release of a Justice Department opinion justifying the strikes.
Questions have also arisen regarding the tactics used in these operations, such as potential aircraft disguise as civilian planes, which could be considered a serious war crime under international law.
No victims have been publicly identified by the US. Families from Colombia and Trinidad and Tobago claim their relatives were among the deceased, who they assert were not involved in drug trafficking. In December, a family filed an international complaint with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, seeking to halt the bombings, investigate, and obtain compensation.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.