The US military has conducted a new series of strikes against vessels suspected of smuggling narcotics, resulting in three fatalities. The operation, which took place on Tuesday, marks a continued escalation in Washington's campaign against drug cartels.
Details of the Latest Engagement
According to a statement from US Southern Command, which oversees operations in South America, the military targeted three boats travelling in a close convoy formation along routes known for narco-trafficking. Officials stated that the vessels had been observed transferring narcotics between them prior to the strikes.
Footage shared on social media reportedly showed the unusual tight formation of the boats. When the first vessel was hit, three individuals on board were killed. Personnel on the other two boats jumped overboard before those craft were also struck, and may have survived. The statement did not confirm their rescue, but noted that the US Coast Guard was immediately notified to initiate search and rescue efforts.
Escalating Campaign and Regional Context
This latest action brings the total number of known boat strikes since early September to 33, with at least 110 people killed, according to figures released by the Trump administration. The location of Tuesday's attacks was not disclosed, though previous operations have occurred in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean.
President Donald Trump has framed the strikes as a necessary escalation in an "armed conflict" against drug cartels, aimed at stemming the flow of narcotics into the United States. The campaign is part of a broader pressure strategy that includes a military build-up in the region, largely focused on pressuring Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who faces US charges of narco-terrorism.
A Significant Escalation on Venezuelan Soil
In a related and significant development, it was revealed that the CIA was behind a drone strike last week targeting a docking area in Venezuela believed to be used by drug cartels. Two anonymous sources familiar with the classified operation confirmed the action to the press.
This represents the first known direct US operation on Venezuelan soil since the strikes began in September, signalling a major intensification of pressure on Maduro's government. The Trump administration's multi-pronged approach combines direct military action, regional force deployment, and covert operations in its declared war on narco-terrorists.
