US Pacific drug strikes have continued at a fast pace as the United States military confirmed it killed three people in a new operation in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The strike is the fifth such attack in just one week. It adds to a growing series of deadly operations targeting alleged drug-trafficking boats in international waters. The US Southern Command said the latest action was a “lethal kinetic strike” carried out against a vessel it claims was operated by designated terrorist-linked groups. The military shared the update on social media platform X. It described those killed as “three male narco-terrorists.” No additional details were provided about the identities of the individuals or the evidence used to classify the boat as part of drug trafficking activity. This latest strike increases the total death toll from the campaign to at least 177 people since it began last year, according to media tallies based on military announcements and reports from the region. The pace of operations has increased in recent days, with multiple strikes reported across the eastern Pacific in a short time frame. Earlier in the week, US forces carried out several similar attacks. One strike on Monday killed two people. Another operation the next day killed four more individuals. On another occasion, five people were killed in a double-boat strike. These repeated actions suggest an ongoing and expanding military campaign targeting suspected drug routes in the region. The US government argues that these operations are part of a broader effort to disrupt what it calls “narco-terrorist” networks operating between Latin America and the United States. Officials say intelligence is used to identify vessels believed to be involved in drug smuggling before any strike is approved. However, the strikes have triggered strong criticism from legal experts and human rights groups. Critics argue that the US has not publicly presented clear evidence that the targeted boats were carrying drugs. They also question the legality of using lethal military force in cases where suspects have not been intercepted, arrested, or given due process. International law specialists say such actions may amount to extrajudicial killings if those on board are civilians or fishermen mistaken for traffickers. Concerns have also been raised about the lack of transparency surrounding the identities and nationalities of the victims. In many cases, the US military has described the targets only in general terms. The American Civil Liberties Union and other rights groups have previously condemned the strikes, saying they risk killing innocent people. Some legal complaints have already been filed in US courts on behalf of families who say relatives were killed in similar operations without legal justification. Lawmakers have also begun to raise questions. Some members of Congress have asked international human rights bodies to review the strikes and examine whether they violate international law. They argue that the government has not provided enough public evidence to support its claims. The US administration, however, continues to defend the campaign as necessary to combat drug trafficking and protect public safety. Officials say the operations are part of a wider security strategy targeting criminal networks that operate across maritime routes in the Pacific and Caribbean. Despite growing criticism, the strikes show no sign of slowing. With five operations reported in just one week, tensions are rising over how far military force should be used in anti-drug missions and whether current actions meet international legal standards.