The U.S. military launched another strike on a boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Thursday, allegedly involved in drug smuggling. The attack killed two people instantly and left six others alive. This operation is part of an ongoing campaign against alleged traffickers in Latin America.

Since early September, more than 60 such strikes have been conducted by U.S. forces, resulting in over 210 deaths. The operations, initiated during the Trump administration, target individuals referred to as “narcoterrorists.”

There is currently no clarity on the rescue of survivors from this attack. U.S. Central Command informed the U.S. Coast Guard, as with a prior strike on June 16, which left two survivors. The Coast Guard had ended its search for the June 16 survivors a day after, citing no evidence of survivors or debris. They have not commented on the latest incident.

U.S. Southern Command stated that the strikes focus on known smuggling routes in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. However, there is no evidence provided by the military showing the involvement of drugs by the targeted vessel.

A video released on X depicted a boat speeding before being hit by a projectile and bursting into flames. President Donald Trump described these actions as part of an “armed conflict” with Latin American cartels. He justified the strikes as essential for reducing drug flow into the U.S., which contributes to fatal overdoses. However, the administration has not presented clear evidence supporting the eliminations of “narcoterrorists.”

Critics challenge the legality and effectiveness of these operations. They argue that fentanyl, a major contributor to U.S. drug overdoses, usually enters overland from Mexico, where it is made using chemicals from China and India.

U.S. lawmakers have demanded the Pentagon release “unedited video” of the initial strike due to reports of a follow-up strike on survivors. Initially, two men survived the strike that killed nine others. They clung to debris when the vessel was hit again, resulting in their deaths. The White House confirmed this second strike, claiming it was in “self-defense” to ensure complete destruction of the boat.

Some legal scholars argue that a second strike killing survivors would be illegal in any context, armed conflict included. The Pentagon’s inspector general announced in May a plan to investigate if the military adhered to an established targeting framework during these strikes. The evaluation will focus on the six-phase Joint Targeting Cycle, but not the legality of the strikes.