US strike on suspected drug boat in Caribbean kills four, SOUTHCOM says

The United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said on Sunday that it carried out a lethal strike on a high-speed vessel suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea, resulting in the deaths of four people. In a statement, SOUTHCOM claimed that intelligence gathered indicated the targeted vessel was suspected of drug trafficking and was moving along established drug-trafficking routes in the Caribbean. The strike was conducted by Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere, which described the operation as a "lethal, kinetic strike." SOUTHCOM also released footage reportedly showing the vessel moving through the water at high speed before being struck in a flash blast.

However, the US military command did not provide substantial evidence to prove that the people on the vessel were actually drug smugglers or that the destroyed vessel was carrying drugs on board. The lack of evidence has raised questions about the legality and justification of the operation.

There is consensus among experts that killing untried people who are merely suspected of committing a crime is against the letter and spirit of the law, Press TV reported. Legal experts, including those from the United Nations, have repeatedly emphasized that such strikes by the US military targeting vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, which are allegedly transporting drugs to America, are unlawful and must stop.

At least 235 people have been killed in 70 boat strikes by the US military since the start of the so-called "narco-trafficking operations" in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean in September 2025. These operations are conducted under direct orders from US President Donald Trump and the supervision of war secretary Pete Hegseth.

The incident is part of a broader pattern of US military actions in the region that have drawn criticism from international legal experts and human rights advocates. The strikes have been condemned as extrajudicial killings that violate international law and human rights standards. The United Nations and other international bodies have called for an end to such operations, urging the US to respect legal norms and ensure that any suspected criminals are brought to justice through proper legal channels rather than being targeted for lethal action.

According to Mehr News, the US military command has not provided substantial evidence to support its claims about the vessel's involvement in drug trafficking, and the strike has added to concerns over the legality of the ongoing operations.