The U.S. has conducted strikes against suspected drug-running boats in international waters, destroying 31 vessels and killing 107 individuals, with only three survivors reported. Washington states the objective is to disrupt drug routes before narcotics reach U.S. shores. This action marks a shift, with the administration declaring an "armed conflict" with drug cartels, classifying those killed as "unlawful combatants" eligible for lethal force without prior judicial oversight, a move that has raised concerns among lawmakers and human rights groups regarding international law and evidence of drugs on targeted boats.