The US military says it struck two boats it alleges were carrying drugs on Wednesday, killing five people on board.
US Southern Command did not disclose the specific location of the strikes, but US forces have been targeting vessels thought to be smuggling narcotics to the Caribbean and eastern Pacific for the past three months.
This latest strike follows a previous attack on Tuesday that purportedly killed at least three individuals aboard a convoy of three other narco-trafficking vessels.
The Trump administration has framed these operations as a non-international armed conflict against the alleged traffickers, although legal experts have pointed out potential violations of conflict laws.
More than 30 strikes involving vessels have taken place in this ongoing "war on drugs," resulting in over 110 fatalities since the first attack occurred in international waters on September 2.
Particular scrutiny has arisen around the initial strike, where it was reported that the vessel was hit twice, even as survivors clung to its hull, raising serious concerns about adherence to rules of engagement.
In a statement regarding the December 30 attacks, US Southern Command revealed that some survivors had abandoned their vessels prior to further engagement, with the US Coast Guard alerted to search for them. Reports suggest that eight survivors were being sought, although their status remains unverified.
The US has not provided evidence to substantiate claims that these boats were engaged in drug trafficking, but Southern Command insists that intelligence indicates they were operating along known trafficking routes.
