More than 200 individuals have been killed in a series of bombings conducted by the U.S. military targeting suspected drug smuggling operations in waters off South America. This campaign has led to numerous attacks over the past week.

The military confirmed that three men lost their lives in the eastern Pacific following an airstrike ordered by Gen. Francis L. Donovan, head of the Southern Command. This attack was aimed at a vessel allegedly involved in narco-trafficking. With these latest fatalities, the death toll has reached at least 202 from over 60 strikes.

The operations have generated controversy due to their secretive nature. Few remains of those killed have been recovered, and there is limited physical evidence, such as debris or drugs, to support claims made by the U.S. administration. Legal experts argue that these strikes may violate international law since military actions are prohibited from targeting civilians unless they present an immediate threat, even if crimes are suspected.

There is skepticism about the effectiveness of these strikes on reducing cocaine supply from South America to the United States.

Beyond the fatalities, coastal communities in Colombia and Ecuador are grappling with the fallout. These areas are where many of the boats purportedly embarked on their trips. Residents are experiencing the impact not just in terms of loss of life but in the disruption of their livelihoods centered around the ocean, which now poses a new threat due to the attacks.