New U.S. Boat Strike Kills 3 in the Caribbean

U.S. Southern Command confirmed that a military strike killed three individuals and destroyed a boat in the Caribbean Sea on Friday, contributing to the Trump administration's five-month campaign against suspected drug smugglers at sea that has now resulted in 133 total deaths. The operation marks another escalation in the administration's efforts to disrupt narcotics trafficking routes, with officials emphasizing the persistent threat posed by maritime drug smuggling organizations. While this particular strike occurred in the Caribbean, the broader campaign has specifically targeted vessels in the Pacific Ocean since early November, with military officials reporting consistent success in intercepting and disabling suspected smuggling vessels. The increasing death toll has raised questions among human rights organizations about the rules of engagement and the potential for civilian casualties in these operations, though the Southern Command maintains that all strikes are conducted against confirmed smuggling vessels with armed personnel aboard.