US Military Conducts Another Strike on Alleged Drug-Smuggling Vessel, Raising Death Toll to 70

The United States has conducted another military strike on a vessel in the Caribbean Sea, suspected of drug trafficking, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. This operation increases the total fatalities from such U.S. actions to at least 70 since the campaign began in early September.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the strike, stating that the targeted vessel was operated by a designated terrorist organization. He emphasized that no U.S. forces were harmed during the operation. Hegseth also issued a warning to those involved in drug trafficking: "To all narco-terrorists who threaten our homeland: if you want to stay alive, stop trafficking drugs. If you keep trafficking deadly drugs – we will kill you."

Since the initiation of these operations, the U.S. military has destroyed at least 18 vessels, including 17 boats and a semi-submersible. However, the U.S. government has yet to publicly provide concrete evidence that these targets were smuggling narcotics or posed a direct threat to the United States.

The Trump administration has significantly increased its military presence in Latin America as part of its campaign against drug trafficking. This buildup includes the deployment of six Navy ships in the Caribbean, the stationing of F-35 stealth warplanes in Puerto Rico, and the dispatch of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to the region.

Internationally, these U.S. military actions have faced criticism. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk condemned the strikes, describing them as "unacceptable" and calling for an immediate halt and investigation into potential violations of international human rights law. Türk's office emphasized that lethal force should only be used as a last resort against individuals posing an imminent threat to life.

The governments and families of those killed in the U.S. strikes have reported that many of the deceased were civilians, primarily fishers. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has accused the U.S. of attempting to oust him and has denied allegations of drug cultivation in his country, asserting that Venezuela is unwillingly used as a trafficking route for Colombian cocaine.

The Trump administration has informed Congress that the United States is engaged in "armed conflict" with Latin American drug cartels, designating them as terrorist groups to justify the strikes. This designation has raised concerns among lawmakers and international observers about the legality and implications of the U.S. military's actions in the region.