US military says strike on suspected drug boat in eastern Pacific kills five
The US military says an airstrike on a suspected drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific killed five people, bringing the campaign's toll to at least 240.
The US military said on Tuesday that an airstrike on a suspected drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific killed five people.
CBS News says the strike brings the total killed in US military boat strikes to at least 240, across more than 70 strikes. The Guardian, citing media tallies, gives the same figures for strikes since the start of Donald Trump's second term. Al Jazeera puts the toll at 243 since September 2025.
Fox News reports that US Southern Command confirmed the five deaths and that video shows a fast boat erupting in a fireball. Fox calls the dead "narco-terrorists." The other outlets do not use that term.
PBS NewsHour reports that Trump has defended the strikes as a way to stem the flow of drugs into the US. Critics question whether the strikes are legal and whether they work, PBS says. Al Jazeera says the campaign has been decried as extrajudicial killings.
Reported by
- The GuardianUS military says strike on alleged drug vessel in eastern Pacific kills five peopleTue, Oct 27, 1:35 PM EDT
- Al JazeeraUS says it killed five people in strike on alleged drug boatTue, Oct 27, 4:54 PM EDT
- PBS NewsHourU.S. military says 5 were killed by a strike on an alleged drug smuggling boat in the eastern PacificTue, Oct 27, 5:37 PM EDT
- Fox NewsUS military kills five in eastern Pacific strike on suspected drug-trafficking vesselWed, Oct 28, 12:05 AM EDT
- CBS NewsU.S. military strike alleged drug boat in Pacific, killing 5 peopleWed, Oct 28, 6:28 AM EDT
This story was written by AI using only the reports listed above, and published without a person reviewing it first. It is rewritten as new reports arrive. Read the original reporting for full detail. Spot an error? Tell us.
Earlier versions (3)
- Wed, Oct 28, 12:15 AM EDT, 4 outlets: US military says strike on suspected drug boat in eastern Pacific kills five
- Tue, Oct 27, 5:45 PM EDT, 3 outlets: US military says strike on alleged drug boat in eastern Pacific kills five
- Tue, Oct 27, 5:15 PM EDT, 2 outlets: US military says strike on suspected drug boat kills five in eastern Pacific