US Kills Over 60 in Caribbean, Pacific Strikes on Suspected Drug Boats Amid Legal, International Criticism

The Trump administration has conducted at least 14 lethal strikes against boats suspected of transporting narcotics in international waters near Venezuela, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, killing over 60 people. While the administration claims these strikes target narcoterrorism and drug trafficking organizations, it has not publicly provided evidence to support these assertions, leading to bipartisan concern and criticism over the legal authority and transparency of these operations. Democrats have criticized the administration for excluding them from briefings and for the Pentagon's failure to answer key legal and operational questions, including the identification of individuals on the targeted boats. The Pentagon admitted it does not positively identify individuals aboard the vessels before striking, which raises serious concerns about extrajudicial killings and the potential killing of innocent civilians, some of whom have been identified as fishermen. Internationally, leaders such as Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Colombian President Gustavo Petro have condemned the strikes, viewing them as acts of tyranny or provocations, while the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called the strikes unacceptable and demanded their immediate halt. Despite the controversy, President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth continue to justify the strikes as necessary measures to combat drug trafficking and narcoterrorism threatening the United States.