U.S. Military Strikes Boat in Caribbean Linked to Drug Trafficking, Four Casualties Reported

Recent reports indicate that U.S. forces targeted and destroyed a boat in the Caribbean suspected of involvement in drug trafficking, leading to the deaths of four individuals on board.

CBS News cited a U.S. Department of Defense official who stated that the operation took place on Monday, while The New York Times reported a conflicting timeline, suggesting it occurred on Wednesday.

Since early September, U.S. military operations in the Pacific and Caribbean have focused on intercepting vessels believed to be associated with drug trafficking organizations. Legal experts have raised concerns, suggesting that these strikes may amount to "extrajudicial killings," despite the targets being known traffickers.

In response to ongoing criticism, the U.S. has intensified its military presence in the region, marked by the deployment of the USS Gerald Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier. Venezuela has labeled this military buildup as an "imperialist threat" against its government, while Russia, a key ally of Venezuela, has condemned the U.S. actions in the Caribbean.

On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced a new initiative against drug trafficking networks, dubbed Operation Southern Spear. He stated, "Today, I announce Operation Southern Spear… The goal of this mission is to defend our homeland, eliminate terrorist drug traffickers, and protect our people from the poisons that are killing our children."

Hegseth did not elaborate on how this new operation differs from previous actions initiated weeks ago.