The US military executed a deadly strike in international waters in the Caribbean, killing three people aboard a boat that American officials said was linked to narcotics trafficking. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the operation and stated it was authorised by President Donald Trump as part of an ongoing campaign against drug-smuggling networks. US intelligence allegedly identified the vessel as part of a trafficking route, and Hegseth described the individuals killed as connected to a designated terrorist organisation.
Hegseth announced that Washington intends to continue pursuing such targets, comparing the approach to past counter-terrorism operations. Since September, similar US strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats have reportedly resulted in at least 65 deaths, including an early attack on a Venezuelan vessel tied by US claims to the Tren de Aragua group. Naval assets and F-35 aircraft have also been deployed to the region, and recent actions have expanded into the eastern Pacific.
The intensified military role has sparked significant international backlash. The United Nations’ human rights office condemned the US actions, calling the rising death toll unacceptable and urging independent scrutiny. Legal specialists have also warned that employing military force against suspected narcotics traffickers may breach international law, and critics argue that the US administration has not provided sufficient evidence linking the targeted vessels to terrorism.
