US Military Kills Three in Latest Strike Against Suspected Drug Smuggling Boat in Caribbean

Kathmandu. The US military, which is intensifying its anti-drug trafficking campaign in the Caribbean Sea region, has reported a fatal attack on another alleged smuggling boat. Information was made public on Friday that at least three people died in the operation.

According to details provided by the US Southern Command via social media, the boat was "transiting a known drug trafficking route in the Caribbean region and was involved in a smuggling operation." In a video associated with the attack, the boat is seen speeding across the sea surface, followed by footage showing an explosion and fire.

With Friday's operation, the death toll in at least 38 similar attacks conducted in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean since the beginning of September has reached 133. These attacks have been carried out targeting alleged drug boats since the administration of US President Donald Trump.

Last week, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that due to the recent harsh and effective attacks by the US military in the Caribbean region, some major drug trafficking groups active there have decided to temporarily halt their smuggling operations. However, he has not released concrete details or evidence to confirm this claim.

Meanwhile, President Trump has expressed the view that the US is in an "armed conflict" with cartels in Latin America and that such attacks are necessary to stop the flow of drugs. However, the administration has not released sufficient evidence to support claims of the deaths of individuals labeled as 'narcoterrorists'.

This military action against drugs in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific region is escalating debate over regional security, where questions regarding human rights and international legal obligations are also beginning to arise.