SouthernWorldwide.com – The U.S. military has once again conducted a strike against a vessel suspected of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of three individuals.
U.S. Southern Command announced the operation via a social media post, stating that its commander, Gen. Francis L. Donovan, authorized a “lethal kinetic strike.” The command alleged that the targeted boat was operated by “Designated Terrorist Organizations” and was involved in narco-trafficking, though no evidence was provided to support these claims.
The incident follows a similar strike by U.S. forces just a day prior in the Caribbean Sea, which also targeted an alleged drug boat and led to two fatalities.
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The Trump administration’s strategy of destroying suspected drug-trafficking vessels in Latin American waters has been ongoing since early September. According to Pentagon figures, these strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 190 people to date.
Despite ongoing international conflicts, such as the Iran war, these maritime strikes have notably intensified in recent weeks. This surge indicates the administration’s continued commitment to aggressive measures aimed at combating what it terms “narcoterrorism” in the Western Hemisphere.
However, the military has not presented evidence to substantiate the claims that any of these targeted vessels were carrying drugs.
These attacks commenced as the U.S. significantly increased its military presence in the region, a build-up not seen in generations. This period also preceded the January raid that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro, the then-President of Venezuela.
Maduro was subsequently brought to New York to face drug trafficking charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
In Tuesday’s operation, U.S. Southern Command reiterated its focus on alleged drug traffickers operating along known smuggling routes. The command shared unclassified video footage on X, depicting a boat on the water before being engulfed in a large explosion, leaving the vessel in flames.
President Trump has publicly stated that the U.S. is engaged in an “armed conflict” with cartels operating in Latin America. He has defended these strikes as a necessary response to curb the influx of drugs into the United States and to combat the fatal overdoses that are impacting American lives.
However, critics have raised concerns regarding the legality of these boat strikes. The administration has provided limited evidence to support its assertions of eliminating “narcoterrorists.”
