The U.S. military reported that it attacked a vessel suspected of drug smuggling in the Caribbean Sea on Sunday, resulting in four deaths. This operation continues the Trump administration’s ongoing campaign against alleged traffickers in Latin America. The latest incident raises the total number of fatalities from U.S. military boat strikes to at least 235 across 70 separate attacks since the targeting of individuals labeled as narcoterrorists began in September 2025. According to the U.S. Southern Command, the strike targeted suspected drug traffickers along established smuggling routes in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, mirroring previous statements on similar operations. The military did not release evidence confirming that the vessel was transporting drugs. A video shared on social media platform X displayed an explosion obliterating a moving go-fast vessel. In a statement posted online, SOUTHCOM confirmed that Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere carried out the lethal strike on October 4 after intelligence indicated the boat was actively involved in trafficking operations. Meanwhile, the Trump administration seeks agreements with allied countries to expand its military offensive onto land throughout Latin America. During an August visit to Panama, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Colombia, Honduras, and Guatemala had agreed to permit joint U.S. military operations against criminal organizations within their borders, though Guatemala subsequently denied any such agreement. Additionally, Ecuador initiated similar joint missions with the U.S. in March. President Trump has maintained that the U.S. is engaged in an armed conflict with Latin American cartels, defending the attacks as an essential measure to reduce drug entry into the U.S. and combat fatal overdoses. However, the administration has provided limited evidence to substantiate its claims regarding the identities and activities of those killed.
Source: cbsnews.com
