The US military has confirmed the deaths of eleven individuals following strikes on three vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The operations, carried out late on , targeted vessels alleged to be involved in narco-trafficking.
US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) stated in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that the vessels “were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations.” According to the command, four people were killed on each of the first two vessels, which were operating in the Eastern Pacific, and three individuals died on the third vessel, located in the Caribbean. No US forces were harmed during the operations.
Visuals released by SOUTHCOM depict missiles striking the vessels, followed by images of the boats engulfed in flames. The command identified those killed as “male narco-terrorists,” a designation that has already drawn scrutiny and raised legal questions.
The strikes represent the latest in a series of controversial military actions undertaken by the US in the region, ostensibly aimed at disrupting the flow of narcotics to the United States. The operations have been authorized under a legal justification crafted by the Trump administration, classifying certain cartels and suspected drug traffickers as enemy combatants. This controversial legal opinion, reported by CNN, has allowed for lethal force to be used against these groups without a formal declaration of war.
The escalation of these operations coincides with a significant increase in US interventions in Central and South America since President Trump began his second term in January . Earlier this year, US forces apprehended Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and transported him to New York, where he now faces charges including conspiracy related to narco-terrorism, according to reports.
However, the legality and morality of these strikes are being fiercely debated. Legal experts and Democratic members of Congress have voiced concerns that the operations amount to extrajudicial killings, particularly given the absence of a congressionally authorized war with drug cartels. Concerns were previously raised following similar strikes in December , as reported by ABC News.
The US military has not publicly presented concrete evidence linking the vessels or the individuals on board directly to drug trafficking activities, nor has it provided independent verification of the number of casualties. NBC News reported that the military has not provided evidence that the boats or people onboard were involved in drug trafficking or proof of the number killed.
According to official estimates from the Defense Department, the US has conducted over 40 such strikes, resulting in the deaths of more than 130 people. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly defended the operations on X, suggesting that President’s Day was “not a good day to run drugs.”
The broader implications of these actions remain unclear. While the US government maintains that these strikes are necessary to combat the drug trade and dismantle criminal organizations, critics argue that they risk destabilizing the region and could lead to unintended consequences. The lack of transparency surrounding the operations and the absence of independent verification raise serious questions about accountability and the potential for civilian casualties.
The operations also highlight the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the region. The US has long been involved in efforts to combat drug trafficking in Latin America and the Caribbean, but the current approach, which relies heavily on military force, represents a significant departure from previous strategies. The decision to classify drug traffickers as “narco-terrorists” and treat them as enemy combatants raises concerns about the blurring of lines between law enforcement and military operations.
The strikes are likely to further strain relations between the US and countries in the region, particularly those that view the US intervention as a violation of their sovereignty. The potential for escalation and the risk of unintended consequences underscore the need for a more comprehensive and nuanced approach to addressing the challenges posed by drug trafficking and organized crime.
The US Southern Command’s announcement follows a pattern of similar actions in recent months, indicating a sustained commitment to this strategy. The long-term effectiveness of these operations, and their ultimate impact on the drug trade, remain to be seen. The ongoing congressional scrutiny and legal challenges suggest that the debate over the legality and morality of these strikes is far from over.
