The United States military has confirmed that it carried out air and maritime strikes on five boats suspected of drug smuggling over two days, killing at least eight people and forcing others to leap into the water in what marks a further escalation of Washington’s aggressive counter-narcotics campaign.
In a statement released on Wednesday, U.S. Southern Command, which oversees military operations in South America and surrounding waters, said the strikes took place on Tuesday and Wednesday but declined to disclose their exact locations. Previous operations of this nature have occurred in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean, both long identified as major transit routes for narcotics bound for the United States.
The Southern Command released footage of Tuesday’s operation showing three small boats travelling closely together, an unusual formation at sea. The military claimed the vessels were moving in convoy along known trafficking routes and had allegedly transferred narcotics between them shortly before the strikes. No evidence was provided to support the allegation.
According to the military, three people were killed when the first boat was hit. Those aboard the other two vessels reportedly jumped into the water and swam away before their boats were struck.
The Command said it immediately contacted the U.S. Coast Guard to initiate search and rescue operations, although it did not confirm whether any of those who abandoned the vessels were recovered alive.
The decision to involve the Coast Guard has drawn attention because the U.S. military has faced intense scrutiny in recent months over its conduct during similar operations. In early September, U.S. forces carried out a follow-up strike on a disabled boat after an initial attack, killing survivors. That incident prompted criticism from Democratic lawmakers and legal experts, who argued that the action may have violated international law.
The Trump administration, backed by Republican allies, has maintained that the strikes were lawful.
The Southern Command said two additional boats were struck on Wednesday, killing five more people alleged to be involved in drug trafficking. As with earlier operations, the military did not disclose the location of the attacks or provide evidence to substantiate the claims. Video clips released alongside the statement showed a vessel on open water engulfed by explosions.
These latest incidents bring the number of confirmed boat strikes to 35 since early September, with at least 115 people killed, according to figures released by the Trump administration.
President Donald Trump has defended the campaign as a necessary escalation to curb the flow of illicit drugs into the United States, repeatedly asserting that the country is engaged in an “armed conflict” with powerful drug cartels.
Alongside the maritime strikes, the administration has significantly expanded U.S. military presence in the region as part of a broader pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Washington has charged Maduro with narco-terrorism, accusing his government of colluding with drug trafficking organisations.
The campaign took a notable turn last week when the CIA reportedly carried out a drone strike on a docking facility believed to be used by Venezuelan drug cartels. It was the first known direct U.S. strike on Venezuelan soil since the campaign began.
The operation represents a significant intensification of U.S. action against drug networks in the region and underscores the increasingly militarised approach being adopted by Washington in its fight against narcotics and its standoff with the Maduro government.