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US strike on suspected drug smuggling boat kills three in the Caribbean
The United States confirmed on Saturday that it carried out a new airstrike against a boat allegedly involved in drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea, killing three men on board. The operation — the latest in a series of controversial missions — has further fueled international criticism over its legality and its impact on relations with Venezuela.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the strike, stating on X that the vessel had been “known to intelligence services” for its role in drug smuggling routes. “Three male narco-terrorists were on board at the time of the strike, which occurred in international waters. All three were killed, and no American personnel were injured,” he wrote.
Since early September, the US has conducted at least 16 similar operations across the Pacific and Caribbean, reportedly resulting in 65 deaths. The Trump administration claims these actions are part of a broader campaign to combat the flow of narcotics into the United States, but has provided no public evidence directly linking the victims to organized crime networks.
Human rights experts and legal scholars have questioned the legitimacy of such strikes in international or foreign waters, arguing that they may constitute extrajudicial killings. On Friday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged Washington to halt the operations and conduct “prompt, independent, and transparent investigations.”
President Donald Trump has defended the campaign as part of a “war against terrorist gangs,” drawing comparisons with the fight against al-Qaeda. He has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of being tied to drug cartels — a charge Maduro strongly denies, calling the strikes acts of US aggression aimed at destabilizing his government.
The US has deployed eight warships and several F-35 fighter jets to the region, with one of the country’s largest aircraft carriers reportedly en route. Although Trump recently admitted to authorizing CIA covert operations in Venezuelan territory, he stated on Friday that he does not plan direct strikes against Venezuela itself.
Tensions are also rising with Colombia, where Trump has imposed economic sanctions on President Gustavo Petro, accusing him of failing to curb cocaine production.
