US Military Conducts Deadly Strikes on Suspected Drug Vessels in Caribbean
The US military, under the Trump administration, conducted deadly strikes on suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean, causing casualties and raising justification questions.
Overview
- The US military, under the Trump administration, has conducted a series of deadly strikes on suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific since early September.
- These operations, including a recent 17th strike, have resulted in at least 69 to 70 deaths and the destruction of at least 18 vessels in Latin American waters.
- President Donald Trump justified these strikes by stating the United States is in armed conflict with drug cartels, targeting alleged narco-terrorists and drug boats.
- A recent strike in the Caribbean resulted in three deaths on a suspected drug vessel, with claims that the attack occurred in international waters.
- While Republicans express confidence, the Trump administration has not publicly provided substantial evidence for its claims, leading Democrats to seek more legal justification.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by consistently scrutinizing the Trump administration's claims and actions regarding the Caribbean strikes. They emphasize the lack of evidence for the administration's justifications and highlight legal challenges, presenting the targets as "alleged" rather than confirmed "narco-terrorists," thereby questioning the legality and transparency of the campaign.
"The attack Thursday killed three people aboard the vessel, Hegseth said, bringing the death toll from the Trump administration’s campaign in South American waters up to at least 69 people in at least 17 strikes."
ABC News"The U.S. military killed three men in a strike on a suspected drug vessel in international waters in the Caribbean on Thursday, Nov. 6, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said."
USA TODAYArticles (7)
FAQ
The Trump administration has justified the strikes by declaring that the US is in an armed conflict with drug cartels, labeling those targeted as unlawful combatants and narcoterrorists, thus relying on legal authority similar to that used in the post-9/11 'war on terror.' However, the administration has not publicly released substantial evidence supporting these claims, and some members of Congress and human rights groups have questioned the legality of these actions under US and international law.
As of early November 2025, there have been at least 17 US military strikes on suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of about 69 to 70 people and the destruction of at least 18 vessels.
The US has designated groups such as the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua and the Colombian guerrilla group National Liberation Army as narcoterrorists involved in drug trafficking, and these groups have been identified as targets of the strikes, though the US has not publicly shared evidence to support the allegations.
Both the Venezuelan and Colombian governments have accused the US of extrajudicial killings, with Venezuela particularly denouncing the strikes as illegal and suggesting the US's true motive may be regime change amid tense relations. International experts and human rights organizations have also questioned the legality of the strikes under international law.
Yes, out of the multiple strikes, there have been three survivors. Two of them were briefly detained by the US Navy before being returned to their home countries, while the third is presumed dead following a search conducted by the Mexican Navy.
History
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