Human rights groups and legal experts contend the lethal strikes against civilians outside an active battlefield violate international law and constitute unlawful extrajudicial killings.

From the articleUS strike kills five on alleged drug-smuggling boatAlso in US military says strike on alleged drug vessel in eastern Pacific kills five people, US military kills five in eastern Pacific strike on suspected drug-trafficking vessel, US military says it struck vessel in Eastern Pacific, killing five | Reuters, US Military's Drug-Boat Strikes Have Now Killed At Least 240 People, US says it killed five people in strike on alleged drug boat