Car
The U.S. military carried out another strike on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean Sea on Tuesday, according to a Pentagon official who spoke to CBS News. The attack destroyed the boat and left four people dead, bringing renewed scrutiny to a widening campaign of maritime strikes.
Since September, U.S. forces have hit at least 21 vessels across 20 separate operations in international waters, resulting in around 80 deaths, according to Defense Department figures. The Trump administration says the strikes are part of a broader anti-drug initiative, though few operational details have been made public.
The Pentagon has not released additional information about the latest attack. In earlier statements, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the targets as “narco-terrorists” operating along established smuggling routes, but U.S. officials have not presented direct evidence that the vessels were carrying narcotics or posed any imminent threat to American interests.
Legal and human rights concerns
Several international law experts have warned that such operations, even if aimed at drug traffickers, could violate international maritime law. U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk called this week for an investigation into the legality of the strikes, citing “strong indications” that they may constitute extrajudicial killings.
The strike comes as the U.S. expands its military presence in the region. The Department of Defense confirmed that the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest and most advanced nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, has entered the U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility, which includes the Caribbean. The Ford is accompanied by several Navy warships as part of the deployment.
Tensions with Venezuela rise
Meanwhile, senior U.S. military officials briefed President Trump on Wednesday with updated plans for potential operations in Venezuela, including possible land-based strikes, according to multiple sources familiar with the White House discussions. Two officials told CBS News that no final decision has yet been made.
On the same day, Venezuela announced a large-scale military exercise involving roughly 200,000 troops, signaling growing tension between Caracas and Washington. Many analysts, and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro himself, have suggested that the U.S. military pressure campaign is intended to force regime change.
In a recent interview on 60 Minutes, when asked if Maduro’s days in power were “numbered,” Trump replied, “I would say yeah. I think so, yeah.”
Trump has repeatedly accused Maduro’s government of collaborating with criminal networks responsible for smuggling drugs into the United States, charges the Venezuelan leader strongly denies.
Regional backlash
The fallout from the strikes has begun to strain U.S. relations in Latin America. On Tuesday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced that his country would suspend intelligence sharing with Washington, saying the measure would remain in place “as long as the missile attacks on boats in the Caribbean continue.”
