US forces have struck a second vessel alleged to be carrying drugs in the Pacific Ocean, amid an escalating US campaign against seaborne drug smuggling.
Three people were killed and no US forces were harmed in the strike on Wednesday, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said. It came hours after the US struck another boat in the Pacific, killing two people.
Colombia's government has denounced the US for carrying out strikes on vessels close to its coast, saying the American action was like applying the death penalty in a territory that is not yours.
Wednesday's strikes were the first in Pacific waters, as most previous attacks were in the Caribbean.
These strikes will continue, day after day. These are not simply drug runners - these are narco-terrorists bringing death and destruction to our cities, Hegseth posted on X.
The post was accompanied by a video that appears to show a boat catching fire after being struck by a US bomb. Floating items are then seen in the water, before they appear to be targeted by a second air strike.
The Colombian deputy foreign minister, Mauricio Jaramillo, said the strikes were disproportionate and outside international law. He told the BBC's Newsday programme that those aboard had no possibility to defend themselves and urged the US to co-operate with Colombia in the fight against drug trafficking.
US President Donald Trump has stated he has the legal authority to continue bombing boats in international waters, and mentioned a possibility of extending these operations to land targets with congressional approval.
This recent escalation into Pacific waters highlights a greater drug trafficking route than the Caribbean. However, it is believed these actions may also be aimed at applying military pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a long-time adversary of Trump's administration.
With at least 37 reported deaths resulting from US strikes targeting alleged drug boats, the situation continues to develop amid growing tensions in the region.
