The United States has carried out another strike against an alleged drug trafficking vessel in the Caribbean, killing three people, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The attack is part of the Trump administration’s ongoing military campaign in Latin America, which has now resulted in at least 70 deaths since it began in September.
The US military says it has destroyed 18 vessels — including 17 boats and one semi-submersible — as part of its effort to target narcotics smuggling operations. Despite these claims, Washington has not released concrete evidence proving that the destroyed vessels were involved in drug trafficking or posed a direct threat to the United States. Hegseth said the most recent strike, conducted in international waters, targeted “a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization.” No American personnel were harmed.
President Trump has expanded the US military presence across the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, deploying naval forces, stealth aircraft, and a carrier strike group to the region. He has justified the operations as part of a broader campaign against “narco-terrorists” and vowed to eliminate anyone involved in drug trafficking.
However, the campaign has drawn growing criticism for bypassing congressional oversight and potentially violating international law. Reports from Venezuela and neighboring countries suggest that many of those killed were civilians, often fishermen. Despite this, the Trump administration has told Congress that it considers the US to be in an “armed conflict” with Latin American drug cartels, classifying them as terrorist entities to justify the strikes.