The United States military has confirmed that it carried out strikes on three boats it accused of drug trafficking in Caribbean waters, killing eight people in the latest escalation of its regional security campaign.
US Southern Command released video footage of the operation on social media, stating that the vessels were traveling along known narcotics trafficking routes and were actively engaged in drug smuggling.
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The strikes form part of a broader campaign under President Donald Trump, during which more than 20 vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific have been targeted in recent months. At least 90 people have been killed in those operations, according to official accounts, as Washington intensifies efforts against criminal networks it accuses of transporting drugs into the United States.
However, the legality of the strikes has come under growing scrutiny. Several legal experts have warned that the operations may violate international laws governing the use of force during peacetime.
The first strike in the campaign, carried out on September 2, has drawn particular criticism because it involved two separate attacks. Survivors of the initial strike were reportedly killed in the second. Legal analysts speaking to BBC Verify have said the follow up strike on the alleged Venezuelan drug vessel was likely unlawful and could constitute an extrajudicial killing under international law.
A former chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court told the BBC that the broader US military campaign could be viewed as a planned and systematic attack against civilians during peacetime, raising serious legal and ethical concerns.
The White House has defended the actions, insisting that US forces are operating in accordance with the laws of armed conflict. Officials said the strikes were necessary to protect the United States from drug cartels that are attempting to smuggle narcotics into the country and destroy American lives.
The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Venezuela of facilitating the flow of drugs into the United States and has stepped up efforts to isolate President Nicolás Maduro. In recent months, thousands of US troops and major military assets, including the USS Gerald Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, have been positioned within striking distance of Venezuela.
Tensions escalated further on December 10, when US forces seized an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast. US authorities claimed the vessel was part of an illicit oil shipping network involving Venezuela and Iran and linked to foreign terrorist organizations.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil condemned the seizure, calling it an act of international piracy. He accused the Trump administration of seeking control over Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, further intensifying the already volatile standoff between the two countries.
