US Military Conducts Third Deadly Strike on Alleged Drug-Smuggling Vessel in USSOUTHCOM Area

President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that the U.S. military executed its third lethal strike this month on a vessel linked to a Designated Terrorist Organization involved in narcotrafficking within the USSOUTHCOM area. The strike, which took place in international waters, resulted in the deaths of three individuals aboard the ship, purportedly transporting illicit drugs aimed at poisoning Americans. Previous strikes targeted vessels reportedly originating from Venezuela, with one killing 11 people and linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, designated as a foreign terrorist organization. The Trump administration defends these military actions as necessary to halt drug flow into the U.S., though some senators, human rights groups, and legal experts question the legality and potential overreach of using military force in law enforcement roles. Details on the precise strike locations remain undisclosed, and Pentagon officials have not commented publicly. These strikes mark a significant shift from traditional policy favoring interdiction and seizure of drug vessels rather than lethal military engagement.