US Military Resumes Lethal Boat Bombing Campaign in Pacific

SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis Donovan described the attack as a measure to impose systemic friction on narco-terrorists and dismantle cartel infrastructure. However, the military’s narrative faces significant pushback. A recent leaked analysis from the Drug Enforcement Administration indicates that these strikes have failed to reduce the volume of cocaine entering the United States, as cartels have simply adapted their logistics to bypass the maritime interdictions.

Since the inception of the campaign nearly a year ago, at least 223 people have been killed. Legal observers, including Adam Isaacson of the Washington Office on Latin America, argue that the strikes constitute extrajudicial killings, noting that many victims appear to be low-level operators or entirely unconnected to the drug trade. Brian Finucane of the International Crisis Group characterized the resumption of the strikes as a lawless killing spree, while academic and investigative voices continue to question the lack of evidence linking the casualties to criminal networks.