U.S military reports 11 dead after strikes on three suspected drug vessels
The U.S. military reported Tuesday that strikes on three boats accused of drug smuggling in Latin American waters killed 11 people, marking one of the deadliest days of the administration’s ongoing campaign against alleged traffickers.
Monday’s operations targeted two vessels carrying four people each in the eastern Pacific Ocean and a third boat with three people in the Caribbean Sea. Videos released by the military showed the small craft engulfed in flames, though officials did not provide independent proof that the vessels were carrying narcotics.
These latest strikes bring the reported death toll to at least 145 since the campaign began in September, during which U.S. forces have repeatedly targeted small boats along known smuggling routes. The operations have drawn criticism over their legality and effectiveness, particularly because much of the fentanyl linked to fatal overdoses enters the U.S. over land from Mexico.
The military has faced scrutiny for earlier strikes that killed survivors of prior attacks, prompting debate over whether such actions violate international law. The administration maintains that the campaign is necessary to disrupt trafficking networks.
The strikes coincide with a broader U.S. military buildup in Latin America, including the deployment of the nation’s largest aircraft carrier to the region. This strategy follows major operations targeting Venezuelan oil tankers and culminated in the capture of the country’s former president on drug charges. Republican lawmakers have blocked efforts to limit the administration’s authority to carry out further operations in the region.
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