{"id":3779,"date":"2026-05-28T03:40:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T03:40:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/05\/28\/two-killed-in-us-strike-on-another-alleged-drug-boat-in-pacific-as-campaigns-death-toll-nears-200\/"},"modified":"2026-05-28T03:40:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T03:40:10","slug":"two-killed-in-us-strike-on-another-alleged-drug-boat-in-pacific-as-campaigns-death-toll-nears-200","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=3779","title":{"rendered":"Two killed in US strike on another alleged drug boat in Pacific as campaign\u2019s death toll nears 200"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"7e4af270-85ab-4683-a124-6be896b19754\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A vessel being struck in the eastern Pacific Ocean by the US military, which claimed it was involved in drug trafficking, on 8 May\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/65af7764d3a9c1782cc5da336529ec54db35ab5b\/589_0_2611_2091\/master\/2611.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"372.3918039065492\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">A vessel being struck in the eastern Pacific Ocean by the US military, which claimed it was involved in drug trafficking, on 8 May. The US has carried out dozens of similar strikes in recent months.<\/span> Photograph: US southern command\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"7e4af270-85ab-4683-a124-6be896b19754\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">A vessel being struck in the eastern Pacific Ocean by the US military, which claimed it was involved in drug trafficking, on 8 May. The US has carried out dozens of similar strikes in recent months.<\/span> Photograph: US southern command\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">Two killed in US strike on another alleged drug boat in Pacific as campaign\u2019s death toll nears 200<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>Military claims boat targeted in second deadly attack this week was travelling along a known smuggling route<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/us-military\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">US military<\/a> attacked what it called a drug trafficking boat on Wednesday in the eastern Pacific, killing two men, officials said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">It was the second deadly attack in as many days in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/trump-administration\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Trump administration<\/a> offensive that began last September and has now left almost 200 people dead. Rights groups say the attacks could amount to extrajudicial killings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">This latest attack targeted a boat that was engaged in drug trafficking and travelling along a known smuggling route, the US southern command claimed on X.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cTwo male narco-terrorists were killed during this action,\u201d it said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The strike came after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/05\/us-military-strike-alleged-drugs-boat-caribbean-sea-pacific\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">dozens of similar attacks<\/a> in recent months and brought the death toll in the US campaign to at least 195, according to a tally by the AFP news agency.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/26\/us-military-strike-pacific-drug-boat\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Tuesday\u2019s attack<\/a> two people survived and were stranded in the water, the southern command said, with the US Coast Guard alerted to launch a rescue operation.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"0c2344ef-f93b-4506-b8e0-e0113e6112f7\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-47fhrn\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-6 | 6\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1kyw41h\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-ak3j0c\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/apr\/27\/mexico-us-anti-drug-operation\" class=\"dcr-1m887w9\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-ut4tvs\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1h5b6rb\">\n<div class=\"dcr-169d7yv\">Mexico warns US involvement in anti-drug operation should not be repeated<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-eurq8n\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fkf7vq\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The coast guard did not immediately respond to requests for information on this and other rescue efforts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Grainy black-and-white video <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Southcom\/status\/2059791619067695516\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">accompanying the newest post<\/a> showed the boat before the strike, then a large explosion, and then flaming wreckage in the water.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The US military launched operation \u201cSouthern Spear\u201d in early September with President Donald Trump insisting the US was effectively at war with drug cartels operating out of Latin America.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">But his administration has not provided definitive evidence that the vessels it has been striking are involved in drug trafficking.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Legal experts and rights groups say the strikes could amount to extrajudicial killings because they have apparently targeted civilians who do not pose an immediate threat to the US.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-military\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US military<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-foreign-policy\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US foreign policy<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/trump-administration\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Trump administration<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/world\/drugs-trade\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Drugs trade<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Two%20killed%20in%20US%20strike%20on%20another%20alleged%20drug%20boat%20in%20Pacific%20as%20campaign%E2%80%99s%20death%20toll%20nears%20200&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/28\/us-military-strike-alleged-drug-boat-pacific-death-toll-nears-200?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F28%2Fus-military-strike-alleged-drug-boat-pacific-death-toll-nears-200&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/28\/us-military-strike-alleged-drug-boat-pacific-death-toll-nears-200\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A vessel being struck in the eastern Pacific Ocean by the US military, which claimed it was involved<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":3781,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3779","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3779"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3779\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3781"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3779"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3779"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3779"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}