President Donald Trump announced on Friday that an airstrike he ordered resulted in the deaths of three unidentified individuals described as “narcoterrorists.” The operation targeted a vessel in the Caribbean Sea, which the administration claimed was associated with a terrorist organization involved in narcotrafficking. This marks the third such military action taken within a month under Trump’s directive.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump detailed the strike, stating he instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to initiate the attack on a vessel traveling a “known narcotrafficking passage en route to poison Americans.” The president emphasized that the operation was conducted in international waters and that no U.S. forces were harmed during the strike. He asserted that intelligence confirmed the boat was trafficking illicit narcotics at the time of the attack.
The post concluded with a fervent message, urging, “STOP SELLING FENTANYL, NARCOTICS, AND ILLEGAL DRUGS IN AMERICA, AND COMMITTING VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM AGAINST AMERICANS!!!” Accompanying the post was a video purportedly showing the vessel being struck from the air, followed by footage of the boat ablaze. Although the video bears resemblance to a previous AI-generated clip, there is currently no evidence to suggest that this latest footage is not authentic.
Details surrounding the identities of the deceased individuals, their country of origin, and the specific nature of the cargo remain undisclosed. The Daily Beast has sought comment from the White House regarding these aspects. Earlier, when questioned about evidence of narcotics being onboard the targeted vessel, Trump claimed, “We have proof. All you have to do is look at the cargo that was spattered all over the ocean, big bags of cocaine and fentanyl all over the place.”
Legal experts have raised concerns over the legitimacy of these strikes. Hegseth, rebranded by Trump as the Secretary of War, defended the actions, asserting that the U.S. possesses “absolute and complete authority” to conduct such strikes in the name of national defense. Reports indicate that military lawyers within the administration cautioned that these operations might violate international law. Retired Lieutenant Colonel Rachel E. VanLandingham expressed her concerns, stating, “The lack of transparency by the administration when they’re using lethal force in the American people’s name, in a very unique manner, is deeply troubling.”
The legality of the airstrikes has been questioned by lawmakers as well. Democratic Senator Jack Reed, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, stated that there is “no evidence—none—that this strike was conducted in self-defense.” Reed underscored the importance of adhering to both domestic and international law, noting that the U.S. military lacks the authority to use lethal force against civilian vessels unless acting in self-defense.
In a more lighthearted response to criticism, Vice President JD Vance dismissed concerns, stating he did not “give a s–t” about the backlash. At a rally in Michigan, he recounted a conversation with Hegseth about the absence of drug boats in U.S. waters, jokingly implying that the recent airstrikes have effectively deterred drug traffickers from operating in that region.
As the U.S. continues to grapple with the implications of these military actions, the administration faces mounting scrutiny over its approach to combating drug trafficking and the broader ramifications of employing lethal force in international waters.