U.S. 10th Caribbean Strike Kills Six, Draws Criticism

The U.S. military carried out its tenth strike on a suspected drug‑running boat in the Caribbean, killing six people, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said, posting infrared video and saying the overnight attack in international waters was the first such night operation. Hegseth and other administration officials tied the vessel to the Venezuela‑origin Tren de Aragua, which the U.S. has designated a terrorist organization, and said the operation was ordered at President Trump’s direction, vowing to treat narco‑terrorists like Al‑Qaeda. The campaign, launched in September and recently expanded into the eastern Pacific, has involved stealth aircraft, Navy ships and other forces and — by U.S. tallies cited by news agencies — amounts to at least 10 strikes and roughly 43 deaths. Human-rights officials, U.N. spokespeople and some U.S. lawmakers have raised legal and oversight concerns, questioning whether lethal force met the “imminent threat” standard and noting Congress was not asked to authorize the operations. Independent verification that the targeted vessels were carrying narcotics has not been publicly provided, intensifying scrutiny amid fears of escalation with Venezuela.