The United States military has confirmed that four people were killed in a strike on a boat in international waters in the Caribbean, marking the 20th reported US attack on vessels in the region. The strike, which took place on Monday, was authorized by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Southern Command stated the boat was “trafficking narcotics,” though no evidence was provided.
A video shared by the US military shows an aerial view of the vessel before it exploded in a ball of flames. Human rights experts have criticized such strikes as extrajudicial executions, even when targeting suspected drug traffickers. Recent US operations in the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Latin America have killed around 80 people.
The attack comes amid reports that senior Trump administration officials held three meetings at the White House this week to discuss potential military action against Venezuela. The Pentagon has also significantly increased its presence in Latin America, deploying F-35 aircraft, warships, and a nuclear submarine.
The Gerald R Ford Carrier Strike Group, which includes the world’s largest aircraft carrier, arrived in the Caribbean earlier this week with at least 4,000 sailors and dozens of tactical aircraft. In total, approximately 12,000 US sailors and Marines are now in the region under “Operation Southern Spear,” as named by Secretary Hegseth.
Trump has indicated he may continue targeting suspected traffickers without seeking a formal declaration of war, a move that many legal experts argue violates international law. US public support for the strikes remains low, with a Reuters/Ipsos poll showing just 29% backing extrajudicial killings and only 21% supporting military intervention in Venezuela.
Regional leaders have condemned the strikes and US military buildup, citing the 2014 “Zone of Peace” agreement signed by Latin American and Caribbean nations. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla called the deployment “an act of provocation,” while Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Colombian President Gustavo Petro, and Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro have all criticized US actions.
Maduro warned that Venezuela has prepared a “massive deployment” in case of a US attack, underscoring the rising tensions in the region.
