New Delhi, May 20 -- The Pentagon watchdog will evaluate whether the U.S. military followed an established targeting framework when carrying out attacks on dozens of alleged drug-smuggling boats that have killed nearly 200 people in Latin American waters since early September.

The evaluation will focus specifically on what's known as the six-phase Joint Targeting Cycle, according to a May 11 letter to Defense Department officials. The phases include a military commander's intent, target development, analysis, decision, execution and assessment.

The Pentagon inspector general's office said in a statement Tuesday that the review was "self-initiated" and that it would not provide a timeline for when it would be completed. It was reported e...