News|MilitaryUS confirms 157 killed in maritime strikes experts call ‘extrajudicial’Defence official tells Congress that 47 alleged drug-trafficking vessels have been struck since campaign began.
## Regulation: US Military Actions in Latin America
Regulation: US Military Actions in Latin America
The United States military has confirmed that 157 individuals have been killed in strikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels in Latin America. These actions have been described as extrajudicial killings by legal experts.
According to a statement by Senior Defense Official Joseph Humire to the US Congress, 47 "narco-trafficking vessels" have been targeted in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific since September.
Humire reported a 20% decrease in the movement of drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean. However, this decrease has not resulted in a significant reduction in the quantity of drugs entering the United States, as noted by Representative Adam Smith.
The United States military has confirmed that 157 individuals have been killed in strikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels in Latin America.
Legal scholars have raised concerns that the strikes may violate international law by conflating armed conflict with criminal activity, where military force is typically not sanctioned for the latter. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) is conducting hearings on these strikes, potentially leading to legal accountability for those involved.
The US administration has adopted a militarized approach to drug trafficking, which includes increased military collaboration with certain Latin American governments. The US has also issued threats of military action against countries like Mexico and Colombia if they do not align with US strategies.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.