US says it killed five people in a strike on an alleged drug boat

US Southern Command said the Oct 27 strike hit a fast boat in the eastern Pacific and killed five people. It called them "narco-terrorists" and said intelligence confirmed the vessel's role in drug trafficking.

Reported deaths since Sep 2025

243 people

A US research group's tracker counted at least 238 deaths in 68 strikes since September 2025; this strike appears to bring the total to 243.

The government has rarely shared evidence for its claims, and relatives of some of those killed say they were fishermen or workers. Legal experts say drug trafficking is a crime, not grounds for military strikes.