Controversy Mounts as US Military Strikes on Drug Vessels Lead to Over 80 Deaths and Calls for Inquiry
The US military faces mounting scrutiny and condemnation for multiple lethal kinetic strikes on alleged drug boats in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean, resulting in over 80 deaths, including controversial follow-on strikes targeting survivors.
Overview
The US military, under the Trump administration, conducted multiple lethal strikes on alleged drug boats in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean, some linked to Designated Terrorist Organizations.
These operations have resulted in a rising death toll, with reports from CBS News and NBC News indicating at least 87 fatalities in recent strikes since September.
Controversy surrounds incidents like a two-strike operation where a second attack reportedly targeted survivors from the initial hit, resulting in additional deaths.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the White House deny ordering a second strike on a Caribbean boat, despite footage and briefings suggesting survivors were targeted, leading to four deaths.
Lawmakers, especially Democrats, condemn these actions, calling for bipartisan inquiries into the strikes' legality and demanding Defense Secretary Hegseth's resignation.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover this story neutrally by presenting factual information from the US military alongside critical context. They report the military's claims about the strike and its justification, while also including details about escalating criticism, previous controversial incidents, and the human cost, allowing readers to form their own conclusions.
Sources (40)
Center (12)
FAQ
The US military, under the Trump administration, conducted strikes on vessels alleged to be operated by groups designated as narcoterrorists, such as Venezuela's Tren de Aragua and Colombia's National Liberation Army, aiming to fight maritime drug trafficking in Latin America to the US.
The strikes targeted 23 vessels—11 in the Caribbean Sea and 12 in the Eastern Pacific—resulting in at least 87 reported deaths from the strikes since September 2025.
Controversy emerged when reports and footage suggested a second strike targeted survivors of an initial attack on a Caribbean drug boat, causing additional deaths. However, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the White House denied authorizing this second strike despite evidence to the contrary.
Many lawmakers, especially Democrats, have condemned the strikes and called for bipartisan inquiries into their legality. There have been demands for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's resignation following the controversy over the strikes.
The Dominican Republic cooperated with the US Navy to locate and seize drug shipments, recovering 1,000 kilograms of cocaine from one of the struck vessels. This joint operation was described as the first against narco terrorism in the Caribbean executed together by the US and the Dominican Republic.
History
This story does not have any previous versions.