US Airstrike Claims Three Lives in Caribbean Drug Operation

Mon Nov 03 2025 08:50:29 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A US military operation in the Caribbean has led to the deaths of three individuals aboard an alleged drug-smuggling vessel, igniting discussions on legality and international law.

In a recent airstrike carried out by the United States, three men were killed when a boat suspected of drug smuggling was targeted. This incident is part of a broader series of strikes, raising questions about their legality under international law and provoking criticism from Latin American leaders. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claims the vessel was linked to a designated terrorist organization, though specifics remain unclear. The situation is evolving, with potential implications for US-Latin American relations and ongoing concerns over human rights violations.

Three men have been killed in a US strike on an alleged drug-smuggling boat in the Caribbean, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has said.

It is the latest in a series of attacks on vessels the Trump administration claims are being used to smuggle drugs into the US.

Since these strikes began in September, experts have raised concerns over their legality under international law, which has drawn strong criticism from Latin American leaders whose citizens have been targeted.

Combating the flow of illegal drugs is a key policy for US President Donald Trump - but some critics suggest the strikes may also be politically motivated, aimed at opposing governments in the region.

According to Hegseth, the targeted boat was operated by a designated terrorist organization, although he did not specify which group. He claimed it was traveling in international waters when it was struck.

The vessel was reportedly traveling along a known drug-smuggling route carrying narcotics, though evidence to back these claims was not provided.

Footage shared by Hegseth appeared to show the moment of the strike, featuring a blurred-out boat before it exploded.

Typically, announcements of such strikes are accompanied by grainy footage, yet lack detailed evidence of the alleged drug trafficking or specific details about the individuals involved.

In past instances, the Trump administration has indicated that some of these vessels originated from Venezuela.

The administration maintains that it aims to target narco-terrorists through these interventions.

However, reports indicate that at least 64 individuals have died from US airstrikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific since early September.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has referred to these attacks as murder, suggesting they serve US interests in exerting influence over Latin America.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro also accused Washington of fabricating a war.

Both leaders have found themselves at odds with the Trump administration, leading to sanctions against Petro and loss of Colombia's certification as an ally in the war on drugs.

Furthermore, discrepancies exist between the Trump administration’s claims and the requirements for congressional approval for such strikes, a point of contention among US lawmakers from both parties.

The UN's human rights chief, Volker Turk, criticized these attacks, stating they violate international human rights law, and emphasized the unacceptable human cost involved.

Experts have suggested that these military actions in the Caribbean and Pacific may be part of broader strategies to influence political changes in Colombia and Venezuela, as the US maintains a critical view of both governments.

The US military has increased its presence in the Caribbean, framing it as a crackdown on drug trafficking, though analysts suggest the scale indicates a larger agenda.