The U.S. military said in a social media post that it had struck a vessel in the Caribbean on Friday, killing three people, the latest such incident in recent months.
President Donald Trump’s administration has touted its success at taking out suspected drug trafficking vessels in the area.
The U.S. military said in a post on X that the Caribbean vessel was “engaged in narco-trafficking operations.” U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), which oversees military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, said U.S. forces “conducted a lethal kinetic strike” earlier on Friday, killing three people.
Reuters could not immediately verify the information.
More Vessel Strikes
Al Jazeera reported that SOUTHCOM released a video of the attack that appears to show a missile strike on the boat, which then explodes into flames, leaving the vessel obliterated.
International law and human rights experts have repeatedly said such attacks amount to extrajudicial executions, even if those targeted are alleged to be engaged in trafficking drugs, the report added.
The killings on Friday follow an attack on Monday in the eastern Pacific Ocean, where SOUTHCOM said it struck a vessel, killing two people and leaving one survivor.
SOUTHCOM said it had notified the U.S. Coast Guard that there was a survivor from the attack, but did not provide details on the survivor’s condition or chances of rescue and survival.
No Legality And Evidence
This is a continuation of deadly air strikes by the U.S. So far, the strikes have killed at least 133 people since September 2025.
CNN News reports that the Trump administration has publicly presented little evidence that those killed in Operation Southern Spear are affiliated with drug cartels, or that each of the vessels had drugs on them.
The legality of the strikes has also come under intense scrutiny in Congress since the operations began in September. The report adds that there is particular interest in the first attack on September 2, which included a follow-up strike that killed two crew members who had initially survived. Multiple current and former military lawyers previously told CNN the strikes do not appear lawful.
(with inputs from Reuters)
