Permanent record
A follow-up U.S. strike killed two survivors of an alleged drug vessel strike
- Event date
- Category
- Use of force and law of armed conflict
- Posture:
- Reported follow-up strike — legality disputed
AP reported that two men who survived the initial strike and were clinging to wreckage were killed in a follow-up strike. The White House confirmed the follow-up and defended it as self-defense compliant with the law of armed conflict; legal scholars and former military lawyers disputed that defense and said targeting people rendered hors de combat would be unlawful. No cited court has adjudicated criminal liability.
Dated sources
- — Former JAGs Working Group (Former military-lawyers' conditional legal statement)
- — Associated Press (Independent reporting)
Correction status
No substantive correction recorded for this version.
Canonical citation
A follow-up U.S. strike killed two survivors of an alleged drug vessel strike. Donaldtrumpler.com. https://donaldtrumpler.com/records/2025-boat-strike-survivors-allegation/
Last verified: