Washington’s offensives began in September against vessels in Caribbean and eastern Pacific waters; around 18 boats have been destroyed since then
A new attack on another suspected drug boat killed three people on Thursday (6), according to the head of the Pentagon, which brings the balance of Washington’s offensive against drug trafficking in international waters to at least 70. Washington began the attacks in September, against vessels in Caribbean and eastern Pacific waters. Some experts have warned that the actions amount to “extrajudicial executions,” even when they target known drug traffickers.
According to the Secretary of the Department of War, Pete Hegseth, who published aerial images of the attack on the social network X, the new action took place in international waters and targeted “a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization”. The video shows a vessel sailing before bursting into flames. “Three male narco-terrorists – who were on board the vessel – died,” Hegseth added, without revealing further details.
With the most recent attack, the death toll in the United States’ anti-drug campaign has reached at least 70. Washington has destroyed at least 18 vessels since the start of the campaign: 17 boats and a semi-submersible. To date, however, it has not presented evidence that the targets were drug traffickers or represented a threat to the country.
“To all the narco-terrorists who threaten our homeland: if you want to stay alive, stop trafficking drugs. If you continue trafficking deadly drugs, we will kill you,” added the Pentagon chief.
The president’s administration has repositioned forces in Latin America, which it says is a measure to eradicate drug trafficking. The American government sent six ships to the Caribbean, F-35 fighters to Puerto Rico and ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group to proceed to the region.
United States forces have also carried out shows of force near , flying over the Caribbean Sea near the country’s coast on at least four occasions since mid-October.
The Venezuelan president, , accused Trump of trying to overthrow his government. The leftist, accused of drug trafficking in the United States, insists that there are no drug crops in his country.
‘Armed conflict’
The Trump administration has informed Congress that the United States is involved in an “armed conflict” with Latin American drug cartels. The Republican describes the cartels as “terrorist groups” to justify the attacks. The governments and families of victims of the American attacks say many victims were civilians, mainly fishermen.
The head of Human Rights at the United Nations, Volker Turk, declared that the deaths occurred “in circumstances that find no justification in international law”.
*With information from AFP
Published by Nícolas Robert
