On Monday, the United States military disclosed an additional operation targeting a boat accused of engaging in drug trafficking activities in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The assault resulted in the death of two individuals, according to a statement from the U.S. Southern Command distributed through social media channels.
This recent action marks one among roughly 30 documented strikes on vessels allegedly involved in narcotics operations since early September, tallying a confirmed death count of at least 107 people, as reported by the current U.S. administration. The military categorically stated that the vessel attacked was participating in drug smuggling; however, it did not supply evidence to substantiate the claim.
Accompanying the announcement, a video posted online depicted a boat navigating the water before being hit by two detonations. President Donald Trump has defended these strikes as essential measures to curb drug flow into the United States, articulating that the nation is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels.
Simultaneously, the administration has bolstered military forces in the region as part of heightened pressure targeting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro has been formally indicted in the U.S. on charges related to narcoterrorism, intensifying geopolitical tensions in the area.
When questioned by journalists about a recent explosion in Venezuela, President Trump confirmed that U.S. forces had targeted a dock facility commonly utilized for loading boats suspected of carrying illicit drugs. Speaking during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida, Trump remarked, “There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs.” The White House and Pentagon have not released additional information regarding this incident.
In December, the administration adopted a new method by seizing two oil tankers sanctioned by the U.S. near Venezuela's coast, with pursuit of a third vessel underway. This strategy has contributed to some sanctioned tankers diverting from Venezuelan ports. Maduro contends that the underlying objective of U.S. military operations is to remove him from power, a claim underscored by President Trump's prior insinuations of possible land-based strikes within Venezuela or other countries.
The military’s campaign targeting suspected drug smuggling boats has encountered scrutiny from lawmakers, particularly following revelations concerning an early September strike that included a follow-up attack on survivors clinging to wreckage after the initial assault.