The United States military carried out another strike on a vessel allegedly involved in drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Sunday, resulting in three deaths, according to the US Southern Command. The operation is part of a series of similar missions conducted in recent months, which have reportedly caused at least 185 deaths in total, as reported by AFP.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, the Southern Command said the targeted vessel was operated by a terrorist organization and was confirmed through intelligence to be traveling along a known drug trafficking route. However, the Trump administration has not yet released clear evidence linking the attacked ships to drug smuggling, prompting debate over the legality of these operations.

Legal experts and human rights groups have argued that the strikes could amount to extrajudicial killings, as they target individuals who did not pose an immediate threat to the United States. The Southern Command confirmed that no US personnel were injured in the latest operation.