US Strikes on Suspected Drug Boats Kill Five in Eastern Pacific

58 articles · Updated · NPR · Apr 13

The US military conducted two strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific, killing five people and leaving one survivor.
The attacks were ordered by US Southern Command, targeting vessels allegedly operated by designated terrorist organizations along known narco-trafficking routes.
These strikes are part of a controversial campaign that has killed at least 168 people since September, raising legal and humanitarian concerns.

Is the U.S. military's 'war on narco-terrorism' truly disrupting drug flows or just shifting them?

How does designating cartels as 'terrorists' legally justify lethal military operations?

How do these military actions impact the socio-economic drivers of cartel recruitment?

What are the hidden costs of alienating international allies in the fight against cartels?

Could the 'Southern Spear' campaign's tactics lead to military action on foreign soil?