On Friday, the U.S. military reported a successful operation in the Caribbean where three drug traffickers were killed in an airstrike targeting their ship. This action forms part of the Trump administration’s broader strategy initiated in September against drug smuggling vessels operating near Venezuela, which they claim is part of a fight against 'narcoterrorists' originating from that country. Since the start of this operation, multiple strikes have occurred across the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, leading to at least 133 fatalities associated with these actions.

Critics and legal scholars have raised concerns regarding the legality of these military operations, particularly as officials have not provided concrete evidence linking the targeted vessels to drug trafficking activities. The debate intensifies over the implications of such military interventions in international waters, with questions surrounding the justification and legal ramifications of unilateral actions taken by the U.S. military. Meanwhile, the Southern Command reported through social media platform X that none of the U.S. military personnel were injured in the strike.

This latest incident comes nearly six weeks after the U.S. forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on January 3 and transported him to New York to face drug trafficking charges levied by the United States. The continuity of these strikes aims to reinforce U.S. efforts to curb drug trafficking within the region, though the effectiveness and moral implications of such military actions remain hotly contested in both political and social arenas.