CARIBBEAN – The United States military has confirmed it carried out another deadly strike on an alleged drug smuggling vessel in the Caribbean, killing four men on board. The operation, announced by US Southern Command on 4 December, has reignited debate over the legality of America’s expanding campaign against so-called “narco-terrorists.”
In a statement posted on X, Southern Command said the strike was directed by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and executed by Joint Task Force Southern Spear. The vessel, described as being operated by a designated terrorist organisation, was reportedly transporting narcotics along a recognised trafficking route in the Eastern Pacific.
The Pentagon confirmed the deaths of four men, labelling them “narco-terrorists.” The incident adds to a months-long campaign under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has seen more than 80 alleged smugglers killed in similar operations.
The strike comes amid heightened scrutiny following revelations about a controversial attack on 2 September, when a targeted boat was struck twice. Rights groups and legal experts have warned that such actions may constitute war crimes, particularly if survivors of initial attacks were deliberately targeted.
Congressional committees have launched investigations into the September incident. The White House has denied that Hegseth ordered the second strike, instead attributing it to Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley.
While officials insist the action complied with the laws of armed conflict, critics argue that targeting unarmed survivors violates both international law and the US military’s own manual, which prohibits firing on shipwrecks.
Bradley appeared before lawmakers in closed-door briefings last week. Accounts of his testimony varied, with Republican Senator Tom Cotton stating Bradley denied any order to “kill them all,” while Democratic Representative Adam Smith claimed video evidence showed survivors clinging to a capsized boat before being struck by missiles.
Human rights organisations have long accused the US of conducting extrajudicial killings in its anti-narcotics campaign. Earlier this week, the family of Colombian fisherman Alejandro Carranza filed a complaint with a regional rights body, alleging he was wrongfully killed in a September strike.
The Trump administration has framed the operations as part of a broader war against narco-terrorism, though no formal declaration of war or congressional authorisation has been issued.
Meanwhile, tensions in the region are escalating, with US forces increasing their presence near Venezuela. President Trump has repeatedly warned that land strikes against Venezuelan targets could occur “very soon.”
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has accused Washington of using the campaign as a pretext to destabilise his government, further fuelling regional concerns over the scope of US military actions.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Associated Press, Pentagon Statement, US Southern Command
