More than 100 people have been reported killed in international waters by the United States since September, when the Donald Trump administration launched a military campaign in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean targeting drug trafficking from the region. On Thursday, the U.S. military carried out another attack against two suspected drug smuggling vessels, resulting in five deaths and bringing the total confirmed fatalities to 104 across at least 27 such incidents.
Escalating Military Campaign Sparks Controversy
The U.S. Southern Command announced the latest attack Thursday evening in a manner consistent with previous announcements: a brief message posted on the social media platform X accusing the vessel crews of being “narcoterrorists,” accompanied by video of the operation. According to the command, “Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting known drug trafficking routes in the eastern Pacific and engaged in drug trafficking operations. A total of five male narcoterrorists died during these actions, three on the first vessel and two on the second.”
This attack follows another incident earlier this week, on Monday, in which eight people died in a similar operation in the Pacific. These actions are part of what the Pentagon has termed “Operation Southern Lance,” a military campaign intended to “expel narcoterrorists” from the Western Hemisphere. To that end, the United States maintains a significant military presence in the Caribbean, under the command of Southern Command, with approximately 15,000 soldiers and the Gerald Ford, the world’s largest and most modern aircraft carrier.
The attacks in international waters have drawn criticism from legal experts and U.S. lawmakers, who argue they amount to illegal extrajudicial executions. The Trump administration has defended the actions, maintaining they are necessary to ensure national security. On Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated that the “most serious threat” to the United States from the Western Hemisphere “comes from transnational criminal terrorist groups,” primarily focused on drug trafficking.
Focus on Venezuela and Regional Security
Rubio, during a press conference reviewing the administration’s foreign policy actions this year, again pointed to the government of Nicolás Maduro, whom the Trump administration accuses of being a drug trafficker. Both the Venezuelan president and some U.S. legislators believe the U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean aims to force Maduro from power.
“Venezuela is an illegitimate regime, which not only does not cooperate with us, but openly cooperates with criminal and terrorist elements, including Hezbollah, Iran and others, and obviously these narco groups,” Rubio stated. He added that the U.S. “reserves the right, and has the right, to use all elements of national power to defend national interest,” including against drug traffickers.
Rubio’s remarks followed Trump’s escalation of pressure on Maduro earlier this week, with the announcement of a “total blockade of sanctioned oil tankers” entering and leaving Venezuela. The president has for weeks threatened the Venezuelan leader with a new phase in the offensive, potentially including ground attacks in Venezuela.
Congressional Scrutiny and Calls for Transparency
Meanwhile, in the Capitol, a group of legislators has for weeks demanded the government provide explanations regarding its plans against Maduro and the attacks on the suspected drug smuggling vessels. The congressmen, largely from the Democratic Party, are requesting the Pentagon release video of the first attack in September, in which government forces reportedly shot and killed two survivors. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was accused of ordering the killings, a move some legislators considered a potential war crime.
Admiral Frank Bradley, in charge of operations in the Caribbean, assured Congress that Hegseth did not give that order, but the Pentagon has refused to release the recording, which has been viewed by some members of Congress.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Operation Southern Lance?
Operation Southern Lance is a military campaign launched by the Trump administration in November 2025 with the stated goal of “expel[ling] narcoterrorists” from the Western Hemisphere.
How has the Trump administration justified these attacks?
The Trump administration has defended the attacks, arguing they are necessary to ensure the national security of the United States.
What is the status of the video footage from the first attack in September?
The Pentagon has refused to release the video footage, despite requests from members of Congress who have viewed it.
Given the escalating tensions and ongoing debate surrounding these operations, what impact might these actions have on regional stability and international law?
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