US Navy attacks drug‑suspect vessel in Eastern Pacific, one dead

The United States Navy struck a vessel in the eastern Pacific, alleging it was using known routes for illegal drug trafficking. The attack, part of the Pentagon's Operation Southern Spear launched under the Trump administration, left one person dead while two others survived and were later rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Washington says the operation targets drug cartels operating from Latin America, but human‑rights groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have called the strikes extrajudicial killings. Reuters and AFP reported that similar attacks in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific since September 2022 have resulted in more than 200 fatalities.

The incident highlights ongoing debate over the legality of U.S. military actions against suspected drug‑smuggling vessels in international waters.