Five more killed in US strikes on 'narco vessels' - RTHK
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Five more killed in US strikes on 'narco vessels'

2025-12-19 HKT 12:47
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  • The latest air strikes on boats allegedly engaged in narco-trafficking operations brings the death toll to 104 in a tally based on official data. File photo: AFP
    The latest air strikes on boats allegedly engaged in narco-trafficking operations brings the death toll to 104 in a tally based on official data. File photo: AFP
The US military said it killed five more alleged drug traffickers aboard two vessels in the Pacific Ocean, bringing the divisive campaign's death toll to more than 100 people.

The Trump administration has carried out such strikes in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since September, but has provided no evidence that the boats are involved in drug trafficking, prompting debate about the operations' legality.

The latest strikes carried out on Thursday hit two vessels in international waters that were "engaged in narco-trafficking operations", US Southern Command said on X.

Three people were killed in the first vessel and two in the second vessel, it said.

The strikes have now killed 104 people, according to a tally based on official data.

During a September operation, the US military launched a second strike that killed survivors of an initial attack on the same vessel, generating accusations of a war crime.

The use of the military for the anti-drug campaign and Trump's warnings of a potential land strike in Venezuela have also raised the question whether he should seek authorisation from Congress.

The House of Representatives rejected two Democratic resolutions on Wednesday aimed at halting the strikes and "hostilities in or against Venezuela" without its authorisation. (AFP)

Five more killed in US strikes on 'narco vessels'