U.S. Confirms Two More Lethal East Pacific Strikes, Six Killed

Overview

• The Pentagon said the Sunday attacks in international waters were ordered by President Donald Trump and targeted two boats it described as operated by designated terrorist organizations, with no U.S. casualties reported.
• Officials said the sinkings were authorized on intelligence indicating the vessels were tied to narcotics smuggling, were carrying drugs, and were transiting a known East Pacific trafficking route.
• The six fatalities bring the reported death toll from these U.S. maritime operations to 76, following nearly 20 strikes since September detailed in recent statements.
• At the CELAC–EU summit in Colombia, 58 of 60 delegations signed a joint declaration opposing the use or threat of force outside the U.N. Charter, with Venezuela and Nicaragua declining to sign.
• European Commission Vice‑President Kaja Kallas said the text avoided naming the U.S. to secure broad backing, as legal and political criticism grows including calls for investigations and a rebuke from U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk.