Eleven smugglers killed in US strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific
The U.S. Southern Command announced on Tuesday that it had carried out a series of air and sea strikes that killed 11 people aboard three boats, noting that these boats were being used in drug smuggling in various parts of the eastern Pacific and the Caribbean.
Details of the military operation
In an official statement released via its X platform, the Southern Command explained that the operations carried out Monday evening were part of an intensified effort to detect and intercept illicit shipments. The statement reported that the strikes resulted in the deaths of "four people aboard the first boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, four others aboard the second boat in the same area, and three people aboard the third boat in the Caribbean Sea.".
The command supported its statement by releasing a video documenting the moment the three boats were targeted. Two of the boats appeared stationary at the time of the attack, while the third was sailing at high speed in an attempt to escape. The footage also showed movements of people on board the two boats moments before the precision strikes.
The context of the war on "drug terrorism"
These operations come amid a marked escalation by the United States in its confrontation with what the Trump administration calls "narco-terrorists." This strategy represents a significant shift in dealing with Latin American drug cartels, treating them as military threats to national security rather than simply criminal matters requiring traditional law enforcement.
Since the beginning of September, US forces have intensified their operations targeting boats suspected of involvement in smuggling, resulting in a heavy toll of more than 140 people killed and dozens of boats destroyed so far, according to circulating data.
Legal controversy and human rights concerns
Despite US assurances that these operations are aimed at protecting borders and national security, they have sparked widespread controversy in international legal and human rights circles. International law experts point out that targeting civilian vessels—even those involved in illicit activities—with lethal force without attempting arrest or trial could constitute extrajudicial killings.
The US administration is facing criticism for failing to provide conclusive and immediate evidence linking the targeted individuals to direct and imminent military threats on US soil, which opens the door to questions about the standards of engagement adopted in international waters and their compatibility with human rights charters.
