U.S. military strikes three more alleged drug boats, killing three and possibly leaving survivors

By Admin

01 Jan, 2026

Introduction
The United States military has carried out three additional strikes on boats accused of drug smuggling, killing three people and potentially leaving others alive after they jumped overboard. The latest action marks a further escalation in Washington’s aggressive campaign against narcotics trafficking routes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific regions.

Details of the Latest Strikes
According to a statement released by U.S. Southern Command on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, the attacks occurred on Tuesday and targeted three boats allegedly involved in drug smuggling operations. The military said that three individuals were killed when the first vessel was struck. In contrast, people aboard the other two boats reportedly jumped into the water and moved away from their vessels before they were attacked, raising the possibility that some may have survived.

Southern Command did not disclose the exact location of the strikes, though previous operations have taken place in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean both known narcotics trafficking corridors.

Unusual Boat Movement and Military Claims
A video shared by Southern Command on social media showed the three boats traveling in close formation, which the military described as unusual behavior. Officials said the vessels were moving in a convoy along established narco-trafficking routes and claimed that narcotics had been transferred between the boats prior to the strikes. However, no evidence was provided to publicly support this assertion.

Search and Rescue Efforts
After the attacks, Southern Command stated that it immediately notified the U.S. Coast Guard to initiate search and rescue operations. The military did not clarify whether those who jumped overboard were eventually rescued or their current condition.

The decision to involve the Coast Guard has drawn attention due to controversy surrounding earlier operations. In early September, U.S. forces faced heavy criticism after conducting a follow-up strike that killed survivors of a previous attack on a disabled boat. Democratic lawmakers and legal experts labeled the action a potential crime, while the Trump administration and some Republican lawmakers defended it as legal under the administration’s interpretation of armed conflict.

Rising Toll Since September
With these latest strikes, the total number of known boat attacks has reached 33 since early September. The number of people killed has risen to at least 110, based on figures released by the Trump administration. The growing toll has intensified debate over the legality, ethics, and effectiveness of the military’s expanded role in counter-narcotics operations.

Trump Administration’s Justification
President Donald Trump has defended the strikes as a necessary escalation to curb the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. He has repeatedly stated that the U.S. is engaged in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels, framing the operations as acts of national defense rather than law enforcement.

Pressure Campaign on Venezuela
Beyond maritime strikes, the Trump administration has also increased military presence in the region as part of broader pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro has been charged with narco-terrorism in the United States, and officials have linked the expanded operations to efforts to weaken cartel networks allegedly operating with the support or protection of his government.

In a significant escalation, the CIA reportedly carried out a drone strike last week on a docking area believed to be used by Venezuelan drug cartels. According to two individuals familiar with the classified operation, this marked the first known direct U.S. strike on Venezuelan soil since the campaign began in September.

Conclusion
The latest boat strikes underscore a rapidly intensifying U.S. military campaign against drug trafficking networks in the Western Hemisphere. While the Trump administration argues that these actions are essential to national security, rising casualty numbers, unanswered questions about survivors, and concerns over international law continue to fuel controversy. As operations expand beyond open waters and into sovereign territory, scrutiny over the long-term consequences of this strategy is likely to grow.