U.S. forces have carried out another strike on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean, raising the death toll in Washington’s controversial anti-narcotics campaign to 80, according to recent U.S. media reports.
The strikes — which analysts say amount to extrajudicial killings even when the targets are known traffickers — began in early September and have focused on boats operating in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific. This latest incident reportedly brings the total to 20 strikes in international waters.
- Advertisement -
The exact timing remains unclear. CBS News reported the boat was destroyed on Monday, while The New York Times, citing the same unnamed Pentagon official, said the strike occurred on Wednesday. The Pentagon has not responded to requests for comment.
Earlier this month, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk called on Washington to examine the legality of the campaign, warning there is “strong evidence” that the strikes constitute “extrajudicial” killings. The U.S. Justice Department, however, maintains that the operations comply with the law of armed conflict and has signaled they will continue.
Tensions in the region escalated this week as a U.S. aircraft carrier arrived off the coast of Latin America, a move that prompted Venezuela to announce a “massive” retaliatory deployment. On Thursday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegsethdeclared a new phase of the mission — Operation Southern Spear — aimed at removing what he described as “narco-terrorists.” No further details were provided on how this phase will differ from existing actions.
