The United States has implemented a series of lethal maritime strikes in the Pacific and Caribbean regions targeting suspected drug trafficking vessels.

美國在太平洋與加勒比海地區實施了一系列致命的海上打擊，目標為涉嫌毒品走私的船隻。

The operational framework for these engagements is predicated on the administration's classification of drug cartels as 'nonstate armed groups' and 'unlawful combatants.' This designation facilitates the characterization of the campaign as a 'noninternational armed conflict,' thereby providing the legal basis for the Joint Special Operations Command to execute kinetic strikes. Since the inception of the campaign in September, at least 56 vessels have been destroyed, resulting in a minimum of 190 fatalities. The escalation of these activities is evidenced by 67 deaths recorded since the start of the current calendar year, including 23 fatalities during seven strikes conducted in April.

這些交戰的行動框架是以政府將毒品卡特爾分類為「非國家武裝團體」及「非法戰鬥員」為前提。此定義便能將該行動定性為「非國際性武裝衝突」，從而為聯合特種作戰司令部執行動力打擊提供法律依據。自九月行動開始以來，至少有 56 艘船隻被摧毀，導致至少 190 人死亡。自本日曆年年初以來記錄的 67 起死亡事件，包括四月份七次打擊中的 23 宗死亡，證明了這些活動正在升級。

Financial and strategic expenditures associated with these operations are substantial. Data from the Watson School of International and Public Affairs at Brown University indicates a total expenditure of approximately $4.7 billion, encompassing naval and aircraft deployments, special operations forces, and munitions. Despite this investment, the efficacy of the strategy remains a point of contention. General Francis Donovan of U.S. Southern Command has testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee that while such strikes may alter trafficking patterns, they do not constitute a definitive solution to the illicit drug flow. Furthermore, the coexistence of non-lethal interdictions by the U.S. Coast Guard suggests that alternative apprehension methodologies remain viable.

與這些行動相關的財務與戰略支出十分巨大。布朗大學沃森國際與公共事務學院的數據顯示，總支出約為 47 億美元，涵蓋海軍與飛機部署、特種作戰部隊及彈藥。儘管有此投入，該策略的效能仍存在爭議。美國南方司令部的法蘭西斯·多諾萬將軍在參議院軍事委員會前作證，表示雖然此類打擊可能會改變走私模式，但並非解決非法毒品流動的決定性方案。此外，美國海岸防衛隊同時採取非致命性攔截，顯示其他逮捕方法依然可行。

Institutional and legal scrutiny has intensified following reports of 'double-tap' strike protocols. Allegations suggest that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued directives to ensure total lethality on target vessels, a claim he attributed to the 'fog of war' during a December cabinet meeting. This operational approach has drawn criticism from the Washington Office on Latin America and various legislators, who argue that the lack of congressional authorization and the systematic annihilation of crews preclude the possibility of legal accountability and may constitute violations of international law.

在「二次打擊」協議的報告出爐後，制度與法律審查隨之加劇。指控稱國防部長皮特·赫格塞斯發出指令以確保目標船隻被完全消滅，他在十二月的內閣會議中將此主張歸因於「戰爭迷霧」。這種作戰方式引起了華盛頓拉丁美洲辦公室及多位立法者的批評，他們認為缺乏國會授權且系統性地殲滅船員，排除法律追責的可能性，且可能構成對國際法的違反。

The U.S. continues to execute lethal maritime strikes despite internal military skepticism regarding their effectiveness and external legal challenges regarding their legitimacy.

儘管軍方內部對其效能持懷疑態度，且外部對其合法性提出法律挑戰，但美國仍繼續執行致命的海上打擊。