Nov. 16 (UPI) -- The U.S. military conducted another attack on an alleged drug smuggling ship in international waters of the eastern Pacific, killing three people, U.S. Southern Command confirmed Sunday as criticism of the strikes continues to mount.
Some 80 people have been killed in the 21 known attacks the U.S. military has conducted targeting alleged drug cartel boats in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean since Sept. 2. It also comes amid a U.S. military buildup in the region.
The attack was conducted Saturday at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, U.S. Southern Command said in a statement, which said the boat was being operated by a designated terrorist organization.
No proof of ties to a terrorist organization was provided, but Southern Command said "intelligence confirmed that the vessel was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, transiting along a known narco-trafficking route and carrying narcotics."
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