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U.S. Airstrikes in Pacific Raise Controversy, Death Toll Hits 148

2/21/2026

29 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

An airstrike by the U.S. military in the eastern Pacific killed three people.
This week produced a second strike, raising the toll to at least 148 since September.
U.S. Southern Command says the vessel was narco-trafficking but has offered no evidence.
Critics, including Latin American leaders and legal experts, call the actions extrajudicial killings as strikes rise under Gen. Francis Donovan after Adm. Alvin Holsey's retirement.

History

Historical Context

Since the early 1990s, Mexico's drug cartels have gained power amid political corruption, leading to a military campaign against them starting in 2006, which resulted in over 100,000 deaths. Recent U.S. airstrikes echo these tactics, raising concerns about extrajudicial killings reminiscent of Mexico's violent drug war, highlighting ongoing issues of accountability and escalating violence in the region.

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Story summary

An airstrike by the U.S. military in the eastern Pacific killed three people.
This week produced a second strike, raising the toll to at least 148 since September.
U.S. Southern Command says the vessel was narco-trafficking but has offered no evidence.
Critics, including Latin American leaders and legal experts, call the actions extrajudicial killings as strikes rise under Gen. Francis Donovan after Adm. Alvin Holsey's retirement.

1 / 2