The US military has killed over 200 people since September in strikes on suspected drug-carrying boats in Latin America, part of a Trump administration campaign against narco-terrorists. Critics question the legality and effectiveness of the operation.
- The strikes target boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific that carry cocaine, not fentanyl. - The deadliest month was October, with 45 killed; many victims were laborers or fishermen.
- Trump claims each destroyed boat saves 25,000 lives, but experts call that an exaggeration. - Families of two victims have sued the federal government, alleging war crimes and unlawful killings.
The campaign continues amid a broader US military buildup in the region and has drawn bipartisan criticism over its legal basis and human cost.