Key Points
• Three people killed in latest US strike on suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean
• Total death toll from a week of strikes across the region now at 70
• Washington says operations target transnational cartels linked to maritime drug smuggling
ISLAMABAD: A United States military strike on a suspected drug-smuggling boat in the Caribbean has killed at least three people, bringing the total death toll from recent US operations in the region to 70, according to regional security officials.
The strike is the latest in a series of actions Washington says are aimed at dismantling transnational narcotics networks operating along maritime routes from South America.
The US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) confirmed that its forces conducted what it described as a “precision strike” on a vessel believed to be carrying illicit cargo near the Venezuelan coast. Officials said the target was “actively engaged in violent resistance” when intercepted. Debris analysis and satellite imagery later confirmed the vessel’s destruction.
The escalation follows several similar incidents over the past week in Caribbean waters off the coasts of Venezuela, Colombia, and Nicaragua
At least 67 people were reported killed earlier in separate engagements that US officials said targeted armed traffickers. Rights organisations, however, have called for transparency, warning that some victims may not have been combatants.
“This growing campaign raises serious questions about oversight and accountability under international law,” said a spokesperson for Human Rights Watch. “If civilians were aboard, these actions could constitute violations of maritime engagement rules.”
The US Department of Defence maintains that the strikes are legal under existing anti-trafficking accords and that all actions are conducted in coordination with partner nations “to protect maritime security and prevent criminal trafficking.” Further details on the identities of those killed or the origin of the targeted vessel have not yet been released.
