On Tuesday, the U.S. Southern Command announced that it had conducted three airstrikes on boats in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean, leading to the deaths of 11 men. The strikes were described as lethal operations against vessels linked to terrorist organizations engaged in drug trafficking. The military's post on X (formerly Twitter) detailed that four people were killed in the first strike, followed by four more in the second, and three in the final bombardment. Video footage released shows the boats being targeted, with two at a standstill and one in motion, just before the attacks.

The U.S. military has intensified its operations against vessels suspected of drug trafficking since early September, resulting in over 140 fatalities and the destruction of numerous boats. The Southern Command emphasized that the boats were using known trafficking routes when they were targeted, framing this as part of a broader effort to combat drug-related terrorism in Latin America. The Trump administration has characterized its stance as a war on "drug terrorists," despite facing criticism for insufficient evidence regarding the activities of the targeted vessels.

This military action raises significant implications for U.S. foreign policy in the region, as it underscores an ongoing commitment to combat drug trafficking while simultaneously navigating the complexities of international norms surrounding warfare and the definition of terrorism. The strategy not only affects bilateral relationships with Latin American countries but also brings into question the humanitarian impact of such strikes on local populations.