The U.S. military has conducted a series of lethal strikes on three suspected drug-smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, killing 11 people, according to U.S. Southern Command. The attacks, carried out on Monday, are the most recent in an extensive campaign targeting vessels the U.S. says transport illicit drugs along known trafficking routes.
Details of the Strikes and Casualties
The military said two of the struck vessels were located in the eastern Pacific and each carried four individuals, while a third boat in the Caribbean Sea had three onboard. In a post on social media platform X, Southern Command described the dead as “male narco-terrorists” and stated that intelligence indicated all three vessels were engaged in drug trafficking operations. No U.S. military personnel were reported injured in the actions.
Videos released by the command show the boats being struck and engulfed in flames, but U.S. officials have not publicly provided definitive evidence linking the vessels to drug shipments.
Part of Broader Maritime Campaign
These latest strikes add to a broader maritime campaign initiated in September targeting small boats the U.S. labels as part of “narcoterrorist” drug networks. According to military statements, at least 42 such strikes have been carried out since then, with the cumulative death toll now exceeding 140 people.
The Trump administration has defended the operations as necessary to disrupt drug trafficking and stem the flow of narcotics toward the United States. However, critics and legal experts have raised questions about the lack of concrete evidence presented and concerns over potential violations of international law.
Reactions and Legal Questions
While U.S. officials maintain the campaign is aimed at organized traffickers using maritime routes, human rights advocates argue that striking vessels without transparent proof of drug transport could amount to extrajudicial killings. The debate has intensified as more countries and international bodies scrutinize the legality and oversight of the operations.
