What changed in this update
Since then, more than 200 people have been killed in U.S. strikes in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
Event intelligence
US strikes on alleged drug boats in Pacific and Caribbean
2 connected story threads
Current state
A UN special rapporteur has found reasonable grounds to believe that US strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea since September 2025 constituted crimes against humanity, concluding the attacks were not acts of self-defence.
Grounded in 3 reports across 3 sources
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Source coverage
Source reports
CBS
U.S. destroys alleged drug-smuggling boat in Pacific, killing 2 people
Since then, more than 200 people have been killed in U.S. strikes in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
Guardian
US strikes a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing 2 people in first attack in months
Euronews
US strike on alleged drug-smuggling boat in Pacific Ocean kills at least two
The US military launched operation "Southern Spear" in early September, with President Donald Trump arguing Washington is effectively at war with drug cartels operating out of Latin America.
