Micah Jonah
February 14, 2026
The United States military has killed three persons in a fresh attack on a boat in the Caribbean Sea as it intensifies operations against suspected drug trafficking networks.
The US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), which oversees American military activities in Latin America and the Caribbean, disclosed on Friday that its forces carried out what it described as a targeted strike on the vessel.
According to the command, those killed were suspected drug traffickers. However, no independent evidence was immediately provided to support the claim.
The latest strike brings the number of reported casualties from similar operations since September 2025 to at least 133, following dozens of attacks on vessels in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Earlier in the week, SOUTHCOM said it struck another vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing two persons, while one survivor was reportedly left at sea. The condition of the survivor was not disclosed.
The development has continued to generate reactions from legal and human rights experts, who argue that such attacks in international waters raise serious concerns about due process and compliance with international law.
Reports had earlier indicated that a previous strike in September 2025 allegedly targeted survivors of an earlier attack, a move that reportedly drew scrutiny for senior US officials, including Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth and the commander of the operation.
US President Donald Trump has defended the military operations, insisting that the United States is engaged in what he described as an armed conflict with drug cartels in Latin America and that the actions are necessary to curb the flow of narcotics into the country.
However, legal analysts have questioned the legality of carrying out military strikes in international waters against individuals accused of drug trafficking without trial.
