Two men were killed Monday in the latest U.S. military strike on a vessel traveling along what the Pentagon describes as a known drug-smuggling route in the Caribbean Sea, according to U.S. Southern Command.
The deaths bring the total killed in this operation to at least 188 people across more than 50 strikes since the campaign began last September. The Trump administration has framed the effort as a crackdown on alleged drug-trafficking boats, but critics have raised questions about its legality and transparency.
Last week, the Pentagon reported killing three alleged narco-terrorists in a similar strike in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The administration has not provided evidence that any of the targeted boats were actually carrying narcotics.
In a social media post on X, Southern Command said Monday's strike targeted a vessel operated by designated terrorist organizations. The military released video footage showing a boat moving forward before exploding into flames.
“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” the command wrote. “Two male narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed.”
President Trump informed Congress in a letter last fall that the United States is engaged in a “non-international armed conflict with these designated terror organizations.” He did not specify which cartels are being targeted but argued the strikes are necessary to stem the flow of drugs from Central and South America.
“The United States has now reached a critical point where we must use force in self-defense and defense of others against the ongoing attacks by these designated terrorist organizations,” Trump wrote.
Democratic lawmakers have demanded more information about the scope of the operations and questioned their legal basis. Representative Moulton has accused Defense Secretary Hegseth of war crimes over the boat strikes, and a growing number of voices are calling for congressional oversight.
The strikes come amid broader tensions in the region. Meanwhile, the administration has also launched strikes against Iran-linked targets, with a new poll showing 61% of Americans view those strikes as a misstep. The Pentagon’s Caribbean campaign, however, has drawn less public attention despite its high death toll.
Critics argue that without proof of narcotics on board, the strikes risk violating international law. The Trump administration maintains they are acts of self-defense against terrorist organizations.
