The US military has carried out its 20th strike on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean, killing four people onboard, a Pentagon official told CNN. The attack, conducted on Monday, is the latest escalation in Washington’s expanding anti-narcotics campaign across international waters. The identities and nationalities of those killed remain unknown, and US officials have acknowledged that they do not always know who is aboard the vessels before launching strikes.
The operation brings the total number of people killed in these missions to 80. Earlier this week, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed two additional strikes that destroyed boats carrying six people, all of whom died. The US has been using fighter jets, armed drones, and gunships to target what it describes as narco-trafficking boats attempting to move drugs toward American shores.
While defence officials argue these operations are essential to counter organised drug networks, the lack of transparency about targeting criteria and casualties has drawn growing criticism. Legal experts warn that the strikes raise serious questions under both US and international law, particularly because no congressional approval has been sought. The Justice Department has told lawmakers it does not need additional authorisation to carry out such missions, further fueling the debate.
The campaign has also begun straining relations with key partners. The United Kingdom has reportedly suspended intelligence sharing over concerns it could be implicated in actions it views as potentially unlawful. Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro has taken a similar stance, halting intelligence cooperation with Washington until the strikes cease. As international scrutiny sharpens, pressure is mounting on the US to justify the legality, transparency, and strategic value of its expanding military operations in the region.
