The operation, carried out on Sunday, is the latest in a series of controversial maritime strikes authorised under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The United States military has confirmed that three people were killed in a fresh strike on an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean, bringing the total death toll linked to the ongoing campaign to at least 180.
The operation, carried out on Sunday, is the latest in a series of controversial maritime strikes authorised under President Donald Trump’s administration.
US Southern Command said the vessel was hit in a “lethal kinetic strike” after intelligence reportedly connected it to organised drug trafficking networks.
Officials said the boat was operating along known narcotics routes in the Caribbean and was being used for illegal transport.
In a statement posted on X, the military described the target as a vessel linked to “designated terrorist organisations” and claimed all three men onboard were involved in drug trafficking at the time of the strike.
Washington says the campaign is part of a wider effort against what it calls “narco-terrorists” operating across Latin America.
The operations, which began in September last year, have gradually expanded, with at least six strikes recorded in April alone.
However, the campaign has drawn strong international criticism. Human rights organisations and legal experts have questioned its legality, saying the US has not provided verifiable evidence that all targeted vessels were actively engaged in drug trafficking.
An AFP tally shows the latest incident pushes the number of people killed in the operations to at least 180, heightening concerns over the scale and intensity of the campaign in the region.
Critics argue the strikes amount to extrajudicial killings, particularly in cases where there is no clear evidence that those on board posed an immediate threat.
They also warn that the lack of transparency around intelligence used for targeting raises serious accountability concerns.
Despite the criticism, US officials maintain that the operations are necessary to disrupt drug supply chains heading toward North America.
The debate is expected to intensify as the death toll continues to rise and questions over proportionality remain unresolved.
Join us on our WhatsApp Platform @KOIKIMEDIA NEWS YOUR PAGE
Koikimedia Bringing the World 🌎 Closer to Your Doorstep