The U.S. military reported on Wednesday that it conducted operations targeting five suspected drug-smuggling vessels over a span of two days, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals while others managed to jump overboard and potentially survive. The specific locations of the incidents on Tuesday and Wednesday were not disclosed by U.S. Southern Command, responsible for operations in South America. Past operations have typically taken place in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean.
A video released by Southern Command showcased the events of Tuesday’s operation, depicting three boats traveling closely together, a behavior deemed unusual by the military. The vessels were identified as part of a convoy following established narco-trafficking routes, allegedly involved in transferring narcotics between them before being targeted.
Following the strikes, the military confirmed three fatalities from the initial boat hit, while occupants of the other two vessels leaped into the water and distanced themselves before being engaged. Southern Command promptly alerted the U.S. Coast Guard to initiate search and rescue operations. The fate of those who abandoned the vessels was not clarified in the statement.
The involvement of the U.S. Coast Guard is notable due to previous criticism faced by the military after an incident in early September where survivors of an attack were subsequently killed by a follow-up strike on their disabled boat. The legality of the follow-up strike has sparked debate, with some Democratic lawmakers and legal experts denouncing it as a crime, while the Trump administration and certain Republican lawmakers defend its legality.
In a separate announcement, Southern Command disclosed that U.S. forces conducted additional strikes on Wednesday, targeting two boats and resulting in the deaths of five individuals suspected of drug trafficking along established routes. The statement did not provide evidence of the alleged trafficking activities or specify the location of the attacks, but accompanying videos displayed a boat on water and explosive actions.
These latest incidents raised the total count of boat strikes by the U.S. military to 35 since early September, with at least 115 casualties reported according to figures released by the Trump administration. President Donald Trump has justified these actions as necessary steps to combat the influx of drugs into the United States, asserting an “armed conflict” with drug cartels.
In tandem with the strikes, the Trump administration has bolstered military presence in the region as part of escalating pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who faces narco-terrorism charges in the U.S. The CIA reportedly carried out a drone strike at a suspected docking area used by Venezuelan drug cartels, marking the first direct operation on Venezuelan soil since the commencement of strikes in September, signaling an intensification of efforts against Maduro’s government.