Americas Desk (EFE).- The United States military says it has sunk 15 boats and killed 61 people in the Caribbean and Pacific following 12 attacks, marking an escalation in Washington’s campaign against drug trafficking in the region.
The Trump administration has justified the operations as part of its “war on drugs,” framing them as actions in a “direct armed conflict” with Latin American cartels it classifies as terrorist organizations.
Tensions began rising in August when U.S. warships were deployed to the Caribbean with Venezuela as the primary focus, but the operations have since expanded into Pacific waters, involving Colombia as well.
Both Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Colombian President Gustavo Petro — whom Trump has accused of being involved in drug trafficking — have denounced the attacks as “murders” and “extrajudicial executions.”
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have also questioned the legality of the U.S. strikes, warning they may violate international law.
Below is a chronology of the reported attacks, according to U.S. and regional government accounts:
Sept. 2 — The United States announced its first attack, claiming the target was a boat carrying 11 alleged members of the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal group, en route to the U.S. with narcotics. The Trump administration released video footage of the strike but provided no additional evidence linking the vessel to drug trafficking.
Sept. 15 — A second attack killed three Venezuelans, Trump said, again asserting that the victims were transporting drugs.
Sept. 19 — Trump posted online about a third strike, without specifying the vessel’s origin. Authorities in the Dominican Republic later reported seizing part of a narcotics shipment allegedly connected to the boat. Three people were killed.
Oct. 3 — War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a fourth attack in Caribbean waters, saying four crew members were killed. As Trump had done previously, Hegseth published a video showing what appeared to be the explosion of the vessel.
Oct. 14 — The U.S. government reported a fifth attack near the Venezuelan coast, resulting in six deaths.
Oct. 16 — U.S. forces struck a submarine, killing two of four crew members. Two survivors from Ecuador and Colombia were repatriated without legal proceedings, despite the Trump administration labeling them as traffickers.
Oct. 17 — Washington announced on Oct. 19 that it had sunk a seventh vessel two days earlier, allegedly linked to Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN) — a guerrilla group the U.S. designates as a terrorist organization. Three people were killed.
Oct. 21 — The eighth attack targeted a boat suspected of drug trafficking — the first such strike in Pacific waters, near Colombia’s coast, killing two people.
Oct. 22 — Hegseth announced a ninth attack, also near Colombia, that killed three more people. He said the strikes would “continue day after day,” echoing Trump’s suggestion that the campaign could extend to land-based targets, though he gave no details.
Oct. 24 — The administration said its tenth attack targeted a vessel allegedly operated by the Tren de Aragua, killing six people in international Caribbean waters.
Oct. 28 — The deadliest operation so far left 14 people dead after U.S. forces struck four boats in international Pacific waters. One survivor was rescued by the Mexican Navy, officials said.
Oct. 29 — The latest reported strike, according to U.S. government sources, hit a single boat in the Pacific, killing four people.
The series of attacks marks one of the most aggressive U.S. anti-drug operations in the hemisphere in years, sparking diplomatic condemnation and raising questions over the legality of military action in international waters. EFE
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