US Military Destroys Suspected Drug Smuggling Boat in the Caribbean, Four Casualties Reported

Recent reports indicate that US military forces destroyed a boat in the Caribbean suspected of being involved in drug trafficking, resulting in the deaths of four individuals on board.

CBS News cited a US Department of Defense official stating that the operation occurred on Monday, while the New York Times reported, based on another Pentagon official, that it took place on Wednesday, leading to conflicting information regarding the timing of the operation.

Since early September, the US military has been targeting vessels in the Pacific and Caribbean that it identifies as associated with drug trafficking organizations. Some legal experts have characterized these actions as "extrajudicial killings," even when directed at known drug traffickers.

Despite the criticism, the US appears unwilling to halt its operations. Recently, it increased its military presence in the region with the arrival of the USS Gerald Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, which Venezuela labeled as an "imperialist threat" to its regime. Russia, a key ally of Caracas, has also condemned US actions in the Caribbean.

On Thursday, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced a new military operation targeting drug trafficking networks via the platform X. He stated, "Today, I announce Operation Southern Spear... The goal of this mission is to defend our homeland, eliminate terrorist drug dealers, and protect our people from the poisons that are killing our children."

Hegseth did not provide further details about the operation or how it differs from the ongoing attacks conducted in recent weeks.