The US military launched deadly strikes on three vessels suspected of trafficking narcotics in international waters, killing eight people. The US Southern Command shared footage showing the vessels before large explosions destroyed them. "Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were engaged in narco-trafficking," the command said on social media platform X. These strikes are part of an ongoing campaign near Venezuela and the Caribbean, targeting over 20 vessels since former President Donald Trump stepped up military action against drug smuggling. At least 90 suspected drug smugglers have died in these attacks so far. This use of military force to strike suspected drug smuggling ships breaks with past practices. The strikes have drawn legal criticism, with some saying they may be unlawful extrajudicial killings. The Trump administration defends the actions as legal. "Our operations in the SouthCom region are lawful under both US and international law, with all actions in compliance with the law of armed conflict," Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson said. Earlier the same day, Trump signed an executive order declaring fentanyl a "weapon of mass destruction." This highlights the administration’s tough and militaristic approach to fighting drug trafficking.