Ecuador Five killed in new US attacks on suspected drug boats
The US military has once again attacked boats suspected of being loaded with drugs off the coast of South America. Five people were killed. The two boats were traveling on a known route used by drug smugglers, the responsible regional command of the US military (Southcom) announced on Platform X. It was not stated whether the attacks took place in the Caribbean or in the eastern Pacific.
01.01.2026, 04:33
SDA
Three "drug terrorists" were killed in the first attack on Wednesday (local time) and two more in the second strike, the military said. Their boats had belonged to a group classified as a terrorist organization by the USA, it added.
Just a few hours earlier, the military had announced a further attack on three alleged drug boats on Tuesday (local time). Three people were killed on the first boat. The people on board the other two boats jumped into the water before the US forces sank the two remaining vessels. The US Coast Guard was notified to search for possible survivors.
US military leaves location of attacks open for the first time
The location of this attack was also not named. Previously, the US military had at least always stated whether an attack had taken place in the Pacific or the Caribbean. It was also always stated that the attacks had taken place "in international waters" - and not in the sovereign territory of a coastal state.
Since the beginning of September, the US armed forces have repeatedly attacked speedboats allegedly loaded with narcotics, citing alleged intelligence. According to official figures, more than 100 people have already been killed in around 30 attacks. The US government consistently refers to the victims as drug smugglers and "terrorists", but is heavily criticized for the extrajudicial killings. Experts argue that the attacks are not permissible under international law.
