US claims it hit two boats carrying narcotics' in Pacific, killing six

"These vessels were known by our intelligence to be associated with illicit narcotics smuggling, were carrying narcotics, and were transiting along a known narco-trafficking transit route in the Eastern Pacific, he wrote in a social media post. Both strikes were conducted in international waters, and three male narco-terrorists were aboard each vessel. All six were killed. No US forces were harmed."

"The administration of President Donald Trump has faced mounting criticism over such attacks, including accusations of violating domestic and international law. But Washington appears to be stepping up the campaign. Sunday's deadly double attack was the fourth this month. Previous strikes in the Pacific and Caribbean Sea killed at least eight people, according to US authorities. The Trump administration started targeting boats in the Caribbean in September and later expanded its military push to the Pacific Ocean."

"The US has carried out 18 strikes on vessels so far, killing dozens of people. Last month, United Nations rights chief Volker Turk said the US attacks have no justification under international law. These attacks and their mounting human cost are unacceptable, Turk said. The US must halt such attacks and take all measures necessary to prevent the extrajudicial killing of people aboard these boats, whatever the criminal conduct alleged against them."

US military forces targeted two vessels in the eastern Pacific, killing six people after intelligence linked the boats to illicit narcotics smuggling on a known narco-trafficking route. Both strikes occurred in international waters, with three male narco-terrorists aboard each vessel and no US forces harmed. The attack was the fourth deadly strike this month and part of an 18-strike campaign that has killed dozens. The Trump administration describes the operations as counterterrorism after labeling drug cartels as terrorists, while United Nations rights officials contend the strikes lack justification under international law and should stop.

Read at www.aljazeera.com