The U.S. military on Thursday (November 6) carried out another strike on a suspected drug-trafficking boat in the Caribbean, killing three people, bringing the total death toll from similar operations to at least 70, according to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, as reported by AFP.
Since early September, U.S. forces have been targeting vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific as part of Washington’s intensified anti-narcotics campaign. Experts have criticized the operations as extrajudicial killings, even if the individuals on board were involved in drug trafficking.
To date, at least 18 vessels have been destroyed—including 17 boats and one semi-submersible. However, Washington has yet to release concrete evidence showing that the targeted vessels were linked to drug trafficking or posed a direct threat to the United States.
Regarding the latest strike, Hegseth released a video claiming the attack occurred in international waters, similar to previous operations. He said the targeted vessel was operated by a terrorist organization and that the three men on board were drug traffickers—though he provided no additional identification details.
Issuing a stern warning, Hegseth said:
“To all narco-terrorists who pose a threat to our homeland—if you want to stay alive, stop trafficking drugs. If you continue, you will be killed.”
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