US Military Kills Three in Controversial Caribbean Drug-Smuggling Strike

The U.S. military, under the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has conducted multiple airstrikes on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific suspected of drug trafficking, resulting in at least 65 deaths since early September. The latest strike killed three men aboard a vessel identified by U.S. intelligence as a drug-smuggling boat, with Hegseth labeling those killed as "narco-terrorists" linked to designated terrorist organizations. These operations have sparked significant criticism from international bodies, including the United Nations, which has condemned the strikes as extrajudicial killings lacking justification under international law. Despite calls for transparency from U.S. lawmakers and concerns from Latin American and Caribbean governments, the Trump administration continues to justify the strikes as necessary measures to combat drug trafficking and protect national security. Videos released by the U.S. government show the attacks but obscure details that prevent independent verification of the claims. Venezuela's government, led by President Nicolás Maduro, denies U.S. accusations of involvement in drug trafficking and views the military actions as aggressive gestures aimed at destabilizing the country.