U.S. Military’s Drug-Boat Strikes Have Now Killed at Least 240 People

The U.S. military said a strike on an alleged drug-smuggling boat in the eastern Pacific killed five people Tuesday, bringing the campaign’s reported death toll to at least 240 across more than 70 strikes. U.S. Southern Command said intelligence indicated the vessel was involved in narcotics trafficking but provided no evidence. The Trump administration describes the targets as “narcoterrorists” and says the operations are necessary to counter cartels. Critics question the strikes’ legality and effectiveness; a Pentagon watchdog is reviewing whether targeting procedures were followed.