Pentagon Watchdog Reviews Fatal Anti-Drug Strikes

(MENAFN) The Pentagon's internal watchdog has launched a review of operations conducted by US Southern Command, including strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels across the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean — scrutiny that comes as legal and political pressure over the campaign intensifies.

The campaign has targeted nearly 60 boats and left more than 190 people dead since last fall, drawing mounting concern from legal scholars, lawmakers, and some Pentagon military attorneys, according to media reports.

A May 11 letter from the Pentagon inspector general's office confirmed the evaluation will examine whether US Southern Command adhered to approved targeting procedures during the missions.

A spokesperson for the inspector general told media that the review covers "the joint process for targeted vessels in the US Southern Command area of responsibility as part of Operation Southern Spear," the Pentagon's anti-drug trafficking initiative.

The office further noted the project was "self-initiated" based on its "ongoing assessment" of Pentagon operations — a signal that concerns were significant enough to warrant action without external prompting.

Since Operation Southern Spear launched in September, US President Donald Trump's administration has defended the strikes by arguing that the US is engaged in an "armed conflict" with drug cartels, classifying those killed as enemy combatants.

The full scope of what the inspector general's review will ultimately examine remains unclear.

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