The U.S. military has killed three men in a strike targeting a suspected drug vessel in international waters in the Caribbean, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Thursday.
In a statement posted on X, Hegseth said the targeted vessel was operated by a “Designated Terrorist Organization,” though he did not specify which group or provide supporting evidence.
His post included a 20-second unclassified video showing a small boat being struck by a munition and erupting in flames.
The incident marks the latest in a string of U.S. military actions aimed at curbing maritime trafficking networks allegedly linked to organized crime and terrorism.
Since September, the U.S. has carried out more than a dozen similar strikes near the Venezuelan coast and in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in over 60 deaths, according to Pentagon data.
While U.S. officials have defended the operations as essential to disrupting narcotics and arms smuggling, critics have raised concerns about transparency, jurisdiction, and possible civilian casualties in international waters.
The Department of Defense has not yet released additional details about Thursday’s strike or identified the individuals killed.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
