US Launches Lethal Caribbean Strike Under Trump’s Orders
The United States military has conducted yet another lethal strike on a vessel in the Caribbean Sea, killing three people, according to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) late Thursday, Hegseth confirmed the attack, which he said was carried out under direct orders from President Donald Trump. He claimed the targeted vessel was “operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization”, though he provided no public evidence to support that assertion.
“If you want to stay alive, stop trafficking deadly drugs. If you keep poisoning Americans — we will kill you,” Hegseth declared.
Strike Footage Released by US Defense Department
The U.S. Department of Defense released a 20-second unclassified video clip showing a small, fast-moving boat being struck by a precision munition and exploding in a ball of fire.
The Pentagon described the strike as part of a broader anti-narcotics campaign aimed at dismantling what Trump administration officials call “narco-terrorist networks” in the Caribbean and Pacific corridors.
The vessel was reportedly hit in international waters, but U.S. officials have not disclosed its exact coordinates or the nationality of those killed.
Dozens Killed in Expanding US Maritime Campaign
Thursday’s strike marks the 19th vessel destroyed by the U.S. military since September 2025, bringing the death toll to more than 60 people.
Targets have included 17 small boats and one semi-submersible, according to Pentagon figures. Most attacks have occurred in international waters between Venezuela, Colombia, and the eastern Pacific, raising serious questions about legality under international law.
The Trump administration insists these operations are justified under counterterrorism and anti-drug trafficking authorities, but it has yet to release verifiable evidence linking the destroyed vessels to drug smuggling.
Criticism Mounts Over ‘Extrajudicial Killings’
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, condemned the continuing maritime strikes, calling them “extrajudicial killings” that violate the UN Charter and international law.
“Lethal force in international waters without due process or clear evidence constitutes a grave breach of human rights,” Türk said in a statement.
Critics in Washington are also demanding transparency. Several lawmakers — including both Democrats and senior Republicans — have asked the Trump administration to explain the legal authority underpinning these attacks.
Maduro: US Using ‘War on Drugs’ as Cover for Regime Change
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned the U.S. strike campaign, accusing President Trump of using anti-drug operations as a pretext to destabilize Venezuela and justify potential military intervention.
“Trump’s so-called war on drugs is nothing but a plan to overthrow my government,” Maduro said in a televised speech.
Washington has long accused Maduro and senior Venezuelan officials of narcotics trafficking, claims that Caracas has repeatedly dismissed as politically motivated.
The U.S. Navy has significantly expanded its presence in the Caribbean over the past six months, with at least two carrier groups and surveillance aircraft patrolling waters off the Venezuelan coast.
Congress Divided Over Trump’s War Powers
On Thursday, Senate Republicans narrowly defeated a Democratic resolution that would have restricted President Trump’s ability to launch offensive military operations against Venezuela without Congressional approval.
The measure, introduced by Senator Adam Schiff, was voted down 51–49, with a handful of Republicans joining Democrats in support.
“It’s an open secret that this military buildup is more about regime change than drug interdiction,” Schiff said. “If that’s the path we’re on, Congress must have a say before we end up in another war.”
Trump has previously boasted that he has authorized covert CIA missions inside Venezuela to “counter drug cartels and terrorist elements.”
Global Legal and Diplomatic Fallout
Legal experts warn that the ongoing strikes could lead to international condemnation and retaliatory measures.
Dr. Elena Rodríguez, an international law scholar at the University of Buenos Aires, said:
“The U.S. is operating in a gray zone of maritime law. These attacks, if proven to target non-combatant vessels, may constitute violations of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.”
Several Latin American nations, including Mexico, Brazil, and Cuba, have called for an emergency session of the Organization of American States (OAS) to discuss the legality of the U.S. operations and their impact on regional stability.
What Comes Next for the Caribbean Region
Despite the criticism, Secretary Hegseth said the U.S. campaign would continue “as long as narco-terrorist threats exist.”
The Pentagon has hinted at expanding intelligence-sharing operations with Colombia and the Dominican Republic, while deploying additional naval drones and long-range patrol aircraft across the region.
Regional analysts say the campaign marks a significant escalation of the U.S. military’s posture in Latin America — potentially the largest since the 1989 invasion of Panama.
“This operation is not just about drugs,” said Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue. “It’s about power projection — showing that Washington can strike anywhere, anytime.”
Key Takeaways
- 3 people killed in latest U.S. strike on vessel in Caribbean Sea
- At least 60 deaths since campaign began in September 2025
- UN, lawmakers, and legal experts decry attacks as “extrajudicial killings”
- Venezuela accuses U.S. of using war on drugs to pursue regime change
- Congress divided over authorizing Trump’s military actions
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