Khaberni - The US Army announced on Wednesday that it attacked 5 boats suspected of being involved in drug smuggling over two days, resulting in the death of 8 people, while others jumped into the sea.
A statement from the US Southern Command, responsible for South America, did not reveal the location of the attacks, which had previously been conducted in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean.
A video clip published by the Southern Command on social media showed the boats moving in a close formation, an unusual occurrence, and the military said they were moving as part of a convoy on known drug smuggling routes.
The Southern Command added that it immediately notified the US Coast Guard to activate search and rescue efforts.
The attacks occurred on Tuesday, and the Southern Command's statement did not mention whether the individuals who jumped from the boats were rescued.
Calling the Coast Guard was notable, as the US military faced severe criticism after US forces killed survivors of an attack in early September by a subsequent strike targeting their disabled boat.
Some Democratic lawmakers and legal experts considered it a crime, while the administration of US President Donald Trump and some Republican lawmakers said the subsequent strike was legal.
