The US military's Southern Command has unleashed a wave of deadly boat strikes, leaving a trail of controversy and concern. In just one week, the command has claimed responsibility for two devastating attacks, resulting in a staggering 133 deaths. The latest strike, on Friday, targeted three suspected drug smugglers in the Caribbean, according to the command's statement. The strike was backed by a video, showing a boat engulfed in flames after being hit by what appears to be a missile. This follows a similar incident in the eastern Pacific on Monday, where two suspected drug smugglers lost their lives, with one survivor. The Pentagon's actions have sparked a heated debate over their legality, with legal experts questioning the lack of accountability and due process for those killed. The Washington Office on Latin America has weighed in, criticizing the Trump administration's apparent license to kill, devoid of any legal scrutiny. The Southern Command's operations have been framed as a campaign against 'narco-terrorism', but the absence of concrete evidence of coordinated drug-smuggling rings raises questions. With the new head of the Southern Command, General Francis L. Donovan, taking over amidst these controversies, the future of these strikes remains uncertain. The Caribbean strike, in particular, comes on the heels of a controversial US attack on Venezuela's capital in January, raising further concerns about the region's stability and the US military's involvement.
