Two Dead in Pacific Vessel Strike Draws International Legal Scrutiny

The U.S. Southern Command says two ‘narco-terrorists’ were killed in an attack on a vessel in the eastern Pacific, part of a campaign critics call illegal under international law. The death toll from these strikes has risen to at least 128 across 34+ attacks since September 2025. International legal scholars and rights groups condemn the actions as extrajudicial killings, arguing there is no recognized armed conflict to justify them, while the Trump administration defends them as counter-narcotics measures. Families of victims have raised questions about involvement and accountability.