The US armed forces carried out a new attack this Friday against a vessel allegedly linked to drug trafficking in the Caribbean, in an operation that left three people dead, according to the Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).
In a message published on the social network “deadly kinetic attack” against a vessel operated by designated terrorist organizations. SOUTHCOM added that no US service members were injured.
With this episode, at least 124 people have died in attacks against vessels suspected of trafficking. drugs within the framework of the so-called Operation Southern Spear, a campaign promoted by the Government of Donald Trump with the declared objective of stopping the flow of narcotics, he said. cnn.
US authorities have described the deceased as “illegal combatants” and maintain that they can carry out lethal attacks without prior judicial review, relying on a classified decision by the Department of Justice.
On Feb. 13, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known… pic.twitter.com/y50Pbtexfi
— US Southern Command (@Southcom) February 14, 2026
The US and attacks against ships in the Caribbean
This Friday’s attack is the fourth that is publicly known so far this year. Earlier this week, another operation left two dead and one survivor.
In that case, the US Coast Guard provided technical support in the search and rescue efforts coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center of Ecuador.
However, the Government has disclosed little public evidence showing that the people killed in Operation Lanza del Sur were linked to drug cartels or that all the attacked vessels were transporting narcotics.
The legality of these actions has been the subject of an intense debate in Congress since the beginning of operations in September, said a report from cnn.
Special attention has been generated by the first attack, which occurred on September 2, which included a subsequent action in which two crew members who had initially survived died.
Several military lawyers, both active duty and retired, have previously noted that The attacks do not seem to comply with current legislation.
