US Military Escalates Drug Boat Strikes, Killing 8 in Latest Operations

US Military Intensifies Caribbean Counter-Drug Campaign

The United States military has conducted a new series of strikes against suspected drug trafficking vessels in international waters, resulting in at least eight fatalities over the past several days. These latest operations mark a continued escalation of the Trump administration's aggressive counter-narcotics campaign in the Caribbean region, which has now claimed over 110 lives since September 2025.

Details of the Latest Attacks

According to statements from the U.S. Southern Command on social media platform X, the attacks were ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and targeted what the U.S. describes as 'terrorist organizations' involved in drug trafficking. On Tuesday, three boats traveling in convoy were destroyed, with three alleged drug criminals killed in the initial strike. 'The remaining drug criminals abandoned the other two vessels, jumped overboard, and swam away before subsequent attacks sank those ships,' the military statement read.

Wednesday saw a similar operation against two additional vessels, resulting in five more fatalities. The U.S. military has not provided concrete evidence to support its claims that these were organized drug transport operations, raising questions about the verification process for such lethal strikes.

Operation Southern Spear: A Broader Campaign

These attacks are part of Operation Southern Spear, a comprehensive military and surveillance campaign formally announced by Secretary Hegseth on November 13, 2025. The operation represents what analysts describe as a hybridization of the war on terror and the war on drugs, with some observers suggesting that regime change in Venezuela is an underlying objective.

Since September 2025, the Trump administration has conducted more than 30 attacks on suspected drug boats, deploying the largest naval force in Latin America in decades. This includes the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, guided-missile destroyers, amphibious assault ships, and F-35 fighter jets to the region.

Venezuela Connection and Escalating Tensions

The operations occur against a backdrop of heightened tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela. Earlier this week, President Trump claimed that American forces attacked a port in Venezuela where drugs were allegedly being loaded onto boats. If confirmed, this would represent the first U.S. strike on Venezuelan territory in the current campaign.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has consistently denied involvement in drug trafficking and has accused the U.S. of using counter-narcotics operations as a pretext for regime change. 'The real purpose is to force me from power,' Maduro stated in recent comments reported by international media.

Legal and Political Controversies

The military campaign has faced significant criticism from U.S. lawmakers who question its legality and lack of congressional authorization. Democratic senators have stated that the administration has provided 'no legitimate legal justification' for the strikes, with some calling for hearings to examine executive overreach.

According to a Military.com timeline, the expanded operations have already led to the early retirement of the U.S. Southern Command leader amid controversy surrounding the campaign's direction and legal basis.

Regional Implications and Future Outlook

The United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), responsible for Central and South America and the Caribbean, has established a Joint Task Force Southern Spear to coordinate these operations. The task force uses a hybrid fleet incorporating robotic and autonomous systems alongside traditional naval forces to detect and monitor illicit trafficking.

As the campaign continues to expand, regional analysts warn of potential escalation that could draw neighboring countries into the conflict. The designation of Venezuelan government entities as terrorist organizations by the U.S. in December 2025 has further complicated diplomatic relations across Latin America.

With at least 115 people killed in 35 known strikes since September according to some reports, and the recent claim of a strike on Venezuelan territory, the Trump administration appears committed to an increasingly aggressive posture in the region despite mounting domestic and international criticism.