US Military Confirms 126 Deaths in Trump Administration’s Strikes on Alleged Drug Boats
The death toll from the Trump administration’s strikes on alleged drug boats has risen to 126 people, according to the US military. This number includes 116 individuals who were killed immediately in at least 36 attacks carried out since early September in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, as confirmed by US Southern Command. Additionally, 10 others are believed to be dead after being lost at sea following a strike.
Breakdown of the Death Toll
The figure includes eight people who jumped off boats when American forces attacked a trio of vessels accused of trafficking drugs on December 30. The US Coast Guard had searched for survivors, but unfortunately, these individuals were not found. Two other people are presumed dead after being on boats that were attacked on October 27 and last Friday.
President Donald Trump has stated that the US is in “armed conflict” with cartels in Latin America, justifying the attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs. However, critics argue that the administration has offered little evidence to support its claims of killing “narcoterrorists.” The effectiveness of these strikes has also been questioned, as the majority of fentanyl behind fatal overdoses is typically trafficked to the US overland from Mexico.
Criticism and Controversy
The campaign has drawn intense criticism, particularly after the revelation that the military killed survivors of the first boat attack with a follow-up strike. While the Trump administration and many Republican lawmakers have defended the action as legal and necessary, Democratic lawmakers and legal experts have condemned the killings as murder, if not a war crime.
The boat strikes began amid a significant buildup of US military might in Latin America, culminating in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. He was brought to the US to face drug trafficking charges after a January 3 raid by American forces. Since then, there has been one boat strike, with the US focusing more on seizing oil tankers connected to Venezuela as part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to control the country’s oil.
For more information on this developing story, visit Here
Image Source: www.twincities.com
