Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, Nov 3: Three men were killed in a US airstrike on a suspected drug-smuggling boat in the Caribbean, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Saturday. The strike is the latest in a growing series of controversial US attacks targeting vessels the Trump administration claims are used to smuggle narcotics into the country.

According to Hegseth, the targeted vessel was allegedly operated by a “designated terrorist organisation” and was travelling through international waters along a known drug route. He claimed the boat was carrying narcotics but did not provide evidence or specify the group involved. A video released by the Pentagon showed a small boat moving through the sea before exploding, though the footage lacked clarity and identifiable details.

Since the US began these operations in September, at least 64 people have been killed in similar airstrikes across the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, according to CBS News. The Trump administration has described the targets as “narco-terrorists”, with several vessels reportedly departing from Venezuela.

However, Latin American leaders and international experts have sharply criticised the strikes, calling them unlawful and politically motivated. Colombian President Gustavo Petro denounced the attacks as “murder” and accused Washington of trying to “dominate Latin America”, while Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused the US of “fabricating a war”.

Following Petro’s remarks, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on the Colombian leader and his aides, also revoking Colombia’s certification as a US ally in the war on drugs.

The UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, condemned the strikes as “a violation of international human rights law”, saying over 60 people had died “in circumstances that find no justification in international law”.

Critics within the US Congress, both Republican and Democrat, have questioned the legality of the operations, arguing that such military actions require congressional approval. President Donald Trump, however, has maintained that he does not need additional authorisation for maritime strikes.

Military analysts have noted a significant buildup of US warships, drones, bombers, and spy planes in the Caribbean, suggesting the scale of deployment far exceeds what is needed for anti-drug operations.

The escalating campaign has raised concerns that Washington is using the guise of anti-narcotics enforcement to pressure left-wing governments in Colombia and Venezuela, signalling a new phase of US influence in the region.