(MENAFN- Live Mint) Colombia President Gustavo Petro accused President Donald Trump of“carrying out extrajudicial executions” that "violate international law" after US' 9 strikes against alleged drug boats. According to US government accounts, it resulted in the deaths of at least 37 people in under two months.

“Mr Trump has slandered me and insulted Colombia. The deaths keep increasing like a taxi meter,” AFP quoted Petro as saying.

At least one Colombian is among the victims, a fisherman who, according to Petro, may have taken part in alleged trafficking“intermittently” to escape poverty.

US' strikes against alleged drug boats

The US military conducted its ninth strike on Wednesday against an alleged drug -smuggling boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, which claimed three lives, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a report by AFP said. The strike followed another attack on Tuesday night in the same area that left two people dead, Hegseth said on social media earlier that day. Unlike the earlier seven US strikes, which hit vessels in the Caribbean Sea, these latest attacks occurred in the eastern Pacific.

A small boat carrying several brown packages is seen traveling on the water in the first short video posted by Hegseth on Wednesday. After a few seconds, the boat explodes and is left floating motionless, engulfed in flames. The second video captures another boat speeding along before it is hit by an explosion. Footage recorded afterward shows packages floating in the water.

Also Read | US strikes 8th 'drug boat' in Pacific; Hegseth compares them to Al Qaeda Trump says his government 'totally prepared' to begin targeting alleged drug traffickers on land

Trump on Wednesday stated that his administration has the legal authority to strike vessels near Venezuela that are allegedly transporting drugs, according to Reuters. However, he noted that the administration might return to Congress if it decides to conduct operations on land.

Also Read | US strikes 8th 'drug boat' in Pacific; Hegseth compares them to Al Qaeda

While speaking to reporters at Oval office, Trump said, "We're allowed to do that, and if we do (it) by land, we may go back to Congress.” He added that his government was "totally prepared" to begin targeting alleged drug traffickers on land.

“We will hit them very hard if they come in by land. We'll probably go back to Congress and explain exactly what we're doing when we come to the land. We don't have to do that, but I think... I'd like to do that,” he added.

Also Read | US Strikes 'Drug Boat' Off Colombia, Calls It Part Of War On Venezuela

Meanwhile, Colombia has formally urged Washington to stop the attacks, angering Trump, who has called Petro a“thug” and drug trafficker. Trump has declared he will end hundreds of millions of dollars in US aid to Colombia and has threatened to impose tariffs on Colombian exports. A report by AFP noted, if implemented, these cuts would undermine decades of joint security efforts aimed at reducing the flow of cocaine from Colombia, the world's largest producer, to the United States, its biggest consumer.

(With inputs from agencies)

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