The US military killed five people in a strike on two boats on Wednesday. They say the boats were carrying drugs. US Southern Command did not reveal the location. For three months, US forces have targeted vessels suspected of drug smuggling to the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. This strike came a day after hitting three boats moving as a convoy, which killed at least three people. The Trump administration calls these actions part of a "war on drugs" and a non-international armed conflict with traffickers. However, some legal experts argue these strikes might break conflict laws. Since 2 September, over 30 strikes have targeted vessels, killing more than 110 people. The first attack drew criticism because US forces struck the same boat twice. Survivors from the first strike, holding onto the boat, were killed in the second strike. Lawmakers worry this "double-tap" violates rules of engagement. After the 30 December strike on three boats, US Southern Command said many survived but did not say how many. It said some traffickers jumped overboard from two boats before those vessels were sunk. The US Coast Guard was notified to look for survivors. Reuters reported an anonymous US official said eight survivors were being searched for. It is not known if any have been found. The US has not shown proof that the boats carried drugs but said intelligence confirmed they were on known drug routes and engaged in narco-trafficking.