Screengrab from a video released by the Department of Defense shows a speedboat carrying 11 members of Tren de Aragua transporting illegal narcotics in international waters on Sept. 2. It was the first strike in the U.S. military's "Operation Southern Spear" targeting alleged drug trafficking vessels. File Photo by the Department of Defense/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 24 (UPI) -- The U.S. military said on Monday that it launched an airstrike on an alleged drug trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people.
The strike was launched on Sunday, U.S. Southern Command said in a statement on social media. It is believed to be the first airstrike the military has launched on alleged maritime drug trafficking routes since June 21.
The military has launched strikes on at least 67 vessels and killed at least 221 people as part of its campaign against drug trafficking vessels since September. However, it has been disputed that some of the victims of these strikes were not involved in any drug trafficking activities.
Sen. Tim Kaine, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee, told the White House earlier this month that a review of classified information has found the strikes have likely, illegally, killed "individuals who are not involved in narcotrafficking."
