US launches new attack on drug boat in the Caribbean
In total, more than 40 deaths are estimated in this offensive, which has sparked international criticism for its legality and the use of lethal force in international waters.
US Department of Defense, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reported that U.S. forces conducted a nighttime attack in international waters off the Caribbean against a suspected drug trafficking vessel, striking the target and killing six people.
Impacts of the attack in the Caribbean
Hegseth explained that the ship was linked to the Venezuelan group Tren de Aragua, which Washington includes on its list of terrorist organizations.
The attack, considered the tenth in a campaign that began in September, represents an intensification of the U.S. strategy to intercept drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere.
During the operation, a video was shared on social media showing the vessel before it was hit and exploded. Hegseth reported that no US forces suffered casualties.
Reactions and legal challenges
The operation has generated diplomatic reactions, especially in Latin America, where authorities in countries such as Colombia and Ecuador have expressed concern about the lack of transparency and the potential impact on national sovereignty.
Questions also arise about the legality of using lethal force in international waters against suspected traffickers without a visible judicial process or explicit authorization from the U.S. Congress.
The operation reaffirms the stance of the Donald Trump administration, which has declared itself engaged in an "armed conflict" against drug cartels, equating them with terrorist organizations and opening the door to external military action.
US forces have carried out at least ten attacks against boats suspected of drug trafficking in the waters of the Caribbean and the Pacific from September 2025.
In the most recent, announced by Pete Hegseth, a vessel allegedly operated by the Tren de Aragua group was attacked in the Caribbean, killing six people.
To date, at least 40-43 people have been reported dead as a result of these attacks.
The tally includes deaths in both the Caribbean and the Pacific, with several ships destroyed or attacked, some without full public information on casualties or evidence of drug trafficking.
These operations have raised questions about their international legality, data transparency, and due process when lethal force is used at sea against suspected drug traffickers.
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