A year into its military boat strike campaign, the United States is targeting large fishing boats off the coast of Ecuador, which the Trump administration claims provide fuel to smaller drug-carrying vessels. On Tuesday night, the U.S. military announced the sixth such operation in two weeks, posting video showing troops boarding a fishing boat and subsequently destroying it. U.S. Southern Command stated these vessels functioned as "floating refueling stations," restocking fast boats involved in drug smuggling. Since operations began a year ago, lethal strikes have killed more than 220 people.

The Trump administration has claimed, without evidence, that the boats are carrying drugs. Legal experts argue the strikes are illegal as the military cannot target civilians posing no imminent threat. The campaign has expanded to larger vessels following a two-month lull on smaller boats.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is traveling to Ecuador on Wednesday as part of a three-country South America trip, where he is expected to meet with President Daniel Noboa. Officials have linked the targeted vessels to the Los Choneros gang, designated a foreign terrorist organization by the United States. Current and former U.S. military officials say sinking larger refueling boats is more effective than destroying smaller vessels and has the added advantage of not killing crew members.

In each case, U.S. troops board the boats, remove the crew, and turn them over to Ecuadorean authorities before blowing up the vessels. The Trump administration's justification for the strikes has shifted over time, originally targeting a Venezuelan gang before broadening to claim the U.S. was under attack by trafficking groups.