Timeline: US Strikes On Boats Killed 99 and Destroyed 27 — Legal Basis And Evidence Questions Raised

Michael Rios, Avery Schmitz, Matt Stiles, CNN|CNN

Dec 19•2 min read

Timeline: US Strikes On Boats Killed 99 and Destroyed 27 — Legal Basis And Evidence Questions Raised

This grid of images shows 10 of the incidents in which the US military has targeted boats in international waters, from September 2 to October 29. - Pete Hegseth/X/Donald Trump/Truth Social

The US military has conducted strikes that killed 99 people and destroyed 27 boats in an operation said to target drug trafficking into the United States. The administration told Congress it considers operations beginning Sept. 2 an "armed conflict" with drug cartels and has labeled the dead "unlawful combatants," citing a classified DOJ finding to justify lethal strikes without judicial review. Lawmakers and human rights groups have challenged the legal basis and noted the absence of publicly released evidence linking the struck vessels to narcotics or cartel membership. Reporting and official inquiries are ongoing.

The US military has carried out strikes that killed 99 people and destroyed 27 boats in an operation Washington says is intended to curb the flow of drugs into the United States. Initial reports listed three survivors: two were briefly detained by the US Navy and later returned to their home countries; the third was later presumed dead after a search by the Mexican Navy.

Administration Position

The Trump administration informed Congress that actions beginning on September 2 constitute an "armed conflict" with drug cartels, labeling those killed as "unlawful combatants." Officials have cited a classified Department of Justice finding to justify the ability to conduct lethal strikes without judicial review.

Questions From Lawmakers and Rights Groups

Some members of Congress and a range of human rights organizations have challenged the administration's legal rationale, arguing that suspected traffickers should be prosecuted under existing law rather than targeted with lethal force. Critics also say the government has not publicly produced evidence linking the struck vessels to narcotics shipments or to specific cartel organizations.