U.S. Southern Command announced that the military launched strikes on three alleged drug smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific and the Caribbean on Monday, killing 11 people.
“Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” Southern Command said Tuesday in a post to X.
The strikes are the latest in a series of controversial military operations that have alarmed and frustrated congressional critics of the administration, although lawmakers have opted to allow the strikes to continue without prior congressional approval.
In the latest announcement, U.S. Southern Command alleged the three boats were “operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.” The post referred to those killed as “male narco-terrorists,” saying that eight people were killed on two boats in the eastern Pacific and three were killed on a boat in the Caribbean. No U.S. troops were harmed, the post said.
The post also said the strikes were conducted at the direction of Marine Corps Gen. Francis Donovan, who serves as the commander of U.S. Southern Command.
The military has not provided evidence that the boats or people onboard were involved in drug trafficking or proof of the number killed. NBC News has not independently verified the military’s claims.
The U.S. has launched more than 40 strikes that have killed more than 130 people, according to official estimates provided by the Defense Department.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth touted the strikes in a post on X, writing, “Turns out President’s Day — under President Trump — is not a good day to run drugs.”
The Trump administration has claimed the strikes are needed to stop the trafficking of drugs that are killing Americans, raising tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela — a major drug transit hub, the U.S. alleges.
Critics of the strikes have painted the administration’s actions as lawless and irresponsible, criticism that reached a crescendo after reports that the military struck one of the boats twice, ultimately killing two survivors.
In January, the U.S. launched a direct military attack on Venezuela, extraditing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife to face narcoterrorism and other charges in the U.S. The Maduros have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez has maintained that Maduro is still the legitimate leader of Venezuela. President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday that he believes Rodríguez “probably has to say that” for political reasons., adding that he thinks she is “doing a very good job.”
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