The United States military conducted another lethal strike on a vessel in the Caribbean Sea on Saturday, killing three men aboard what officials described as a drug-smuggling boat.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the operation in a post on X, stating it was executed on direct orders from President Donald Trump.
The targeted ship, operating in international waters, was identified by U.S. intelligence as involved in illicit narcotics trafficking.
Hegseth referred to the deceased as "three male narco-terrorists," confirming all were killed in the attack.
This incident marks the latest in a series of U.S. operations that began in early September.
To date, the campaign has resulted in over 62 deaths, including nationals from Venezuela and Colombia, alongside the destruction of 14 boats and a semi-submersible vessel.
A prior strike on Wednesday claimed four lives, while bombings on the preceding Monday killed 14 others.
The Trump administration has framed these actions as essential to combating drug flows into the United States, though no public evidence has been released to support the claims of criminal involvement.
Announcements typically include grainy video footage of the strikes, such as a blurred clip showing the vessel exploding, but lack details on cargo or passengers.
Accompanying the strikes is a significant U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, featuring guided-missile destroyers, F-35 fighter jets, a nuclear submarine, thousands of troops, and the impending arrival of the Ford carrier strike group.
This deployment has heightened frictions with regional powers.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has condemned the actions as illegal aggression, accusing Trump of pursuing regime change.
In response, Washington doubled its bounty for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50 million in August, citing his alleged ties to drug cartels, and has authorized CIA covert operations in the country.
Russia's Foreign Ministry echoed these criticisms, with spokesperson Maria Zakharova denouncing the "excessive military force" as a breach of U.S. law and international norms, while reaffirming support for Venezuelan sovereignty.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro labeled the strikes "murder," asserting they serve U.S. efforts to dominate Latin America.
Following his remarks, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Petro and his associates, revoked Colombia's status as a key drug-war ally, and Trump has threatened potential land-based military actions in Venezuela—though he noted congressional consent might be required.
The operations have ignited widespread debate over their legality.
Critics argue the strikes constitute extrajudicial killings, violating international law that restricts lethal force against noncombatants outside active conflict zones.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk issued a stark warning on Friday.
"Over 60 people have reportedly been killed in a continuing series of attacks carried out by US armed forces... in circumstances that find no justification in international law," he said.
"These attacks – and their mounting human cost – are unacceptable."
Some U.S. lawmakers from both parties have questioned whether the vessel strikes require congressional approval, which Trump has rejected.
Experts suggest the campaign may also aim to pressure politically opposed governments in Venezuela and Colombia.