The U.S. military reported on Wednesday that it targeted five suspected drug-smuggling boats across two days, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals, with others possibly surviving by jumping overboard. The U.S. Southern Command, responsible for South America, did not disclose the locations of the operations, although past incidents have taken place in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean.
A video shared by Southern Command on social media depicted the attack on Tuesday involving three closely positioned boats, which the military described as a convoy operating along established narco-trafficking routes. The military alleged that these boats had exchanged narcotics before being struck, but did not offer supporting evidence for this claim.
In the initial strike, three people were reportedly killed, while occupants of the remaining two boats abandoned ship and distanced themselves before being targeted. The U.S. military promptly alerted the Coast Guard to initiate search and rescue procedures, although it was not clarified whether those who jumped overboard were rescued.
The involvement of the Coast Guard is notable due to previous scrutiny faced by the U.S. military for targeting survivors of a prior attack in early September. This incident led to debates among Democratic lawmakers and legal experts, who questioned the legality of subsequent strikes, a view opposed by the Trump administration and certain Republican legislators.
On the following day, U.S. forces engaged two additional boats, resulting in the deaths of five individuals accused of drug trafficking along established routes. Video footage accompanying the statement showcased a boat in the water and ensuing explosions. These recent actions bring the total number of boat strikes conducted by the U.S. military to 35 since early September, resulting in a death toll of at least 115 individuals, as per the Trump administration’s figures.
President Donald Trump has defended these actions as necessary measures to combat drug flow into the U.S., asserting that the country is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels. Concurrently, the administration has bolstered military presence in the region as part of heightened pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who faces narco-terrorism charges in the U.S.
In a separate development, sources familiar with the matter revealed that the CIA orchestrated a drone strike last week on a suspected docking area linked to Venezuelan drug cartels. This marked the first direct operation on Venezuelan soil since the commencement of strikes in September, representing a significant escalation in the administration’s campaign against Maduro’s government.