The US has attacked a suspected drug-smuggling ship in the eastern Pacific, killing three people. The operation took place as part of the Southern Spear action.
The United States attacked a ship suspected of drug smuggling again on Saturday, this time in the eastern Pacific. Three “narco-terrorists” were killed in the attack. The Southern Command of the US Armed Forces (SOUTHCOM) announced this on the X network on Sunday. TASR informs about it with reference to the AFP agency.
According to the statement, which was accompanied by a short video, the attack was carried out at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Operation Southern Spear
“Intelligence has confirmed that the vessel was involved in illegal drug smuggling, was on a known drug trafficking route and was transporting drugs,” Southern Command said, adding that the attack took place in international waters as part of Operation Southern Spear, which Hegseth announced on Thursday.
SOUTHCOM said a short time earlier that the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group, which also includes two guided-missile destroyers and other support vessels and aircraft, had arrived in the Caribbean Sea. She thus joined several warships already in the Caribbean.
Controversial attacks
The US military has been attacking alleged drug smugglers’ ships since early September. On Sunday, the Pentagon confirmed to the DPA agency that there had been 20 attacks with a total of 79 victims by the beginning of last week. However, Washington has not released evidence that the individuals targeted were actually drug traffickers. Critics consider these attacks to be extrajudicial executions and a violation of international law, writes AFP.
Most of the attacks took place off the coast of Venezuela, which the administration of President Donald Trump accuses of actively facilitating the export of drugs to the United States, threatening the security of the United States and its citizens.
