Washington, D.C. – The Trump administration’s military campaign in South American waters is drawing strong criticism after the Pentagon confirmed another fatal strike on a small boat in the Caribbean Sea, bringing the total number of people killed to at least 69 across 17 operations.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Thursday’s attack, saying the vessel was linked to a “Designated Terrorist Organization” involved in narcotics trafficking. He released a short video of the strike on social media, writing that such operations “will continue until their poisoning of the American people stops.” No evidence was provided to support the allegations.
Administration officials have described the ongoing campaign as part of an “armed conflict” against narco-terrorist groups, but legal scholars and human rights advocates question that rationale. If no recognized conflict exists, experts warn strikes could violate international law by killing suspects without due process or oversight.
Several Democratic lawmakers are urging congressional hearings to review the legal framework behind the operations. Republicans have largely defended the effort as a necessary step in combating transnational narcotics trafficking.
The Senate on Thursday rejected legislation that would have limited President Donald Trump’s authority to launch additional strikes near Venezuela, leaving the campaign’s future largely unchecked.
