US conducts another strike on alleged drug-smuggling boat in eastern Pacific

The US military carried out another strike Monday against a vessel it said was involved in drug-smuggling operations in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing one person, according to US Southern Command.

In a social media post, Southern Command said intelligence indicated the "low-profile vessel" was traveling along known narcotics trafficking routes and engaged in illegal operations.

The command provided no evidence confirming drug smuggling. A video released shows the boat's rear catching fire after a salvo, with the vessel later drifting while burning. Previous strike videos have depicted sudden explosions, suggesting missile attacks.

The Trump administration has framed the strikes as efforts to curb the flow of drugs into the United States and increase pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Since early September, at least 105 people have been killed in 29 known strikes. The operations have drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and human rights groups, who argue the administration has offered little proof that targeted vessels were smuggling drugs, raising concerns of extrajudicial killings.

Meanwhile, the US Coast Guard has intensified operations to intercept oil tankers in the Caribbean Sea as part of the administration's broader campaign against Maduro. The strikes, conducted in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean, highlight the continued militarized approach to combating drug trafficking and exerting pressure on Venezuela.