US military says Caribbean strike killed four on alleged drug boat

The US military said it conducted another strike on a boat allegedly involved in drug trafficking in the Caribbean, killing four people. The vessel's alleged role in trafficking remains a qualified claim.

US Southern Command said late Sunday that it had struck alleged drug traffickers operating along established trafficking routes in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean, describing operations against suspected cartels across those maritime areas.

The military released footage on X showing an explosion that destroyed a moving vessel. It has offered no evidence that the targeted boat was carrying drugs.

When defending the campaign, President Donald Trump characterized the fight against Latin American cartels as an active armed conflict. He argued that escalating the strikes was necessary to curb drug trafficking and reduce fatal US overdoses.

United Nations experts have warned that the strikes violate international law and could amount to crimes against humanity. Their warning challenges the legality of the military campaign.