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2025 United States military strikes on alleged drug traffickers

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2025 United States military strikes on alleged drug traffickers

The United States military began executing airstrikes on vessels in the Caribbean Sea in September 2025, positioned by the administration of Donald Trump as a mission to fight maritime drug trafficking in Latin America to the US. In October, the strikes expanded to include the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The Trump administration alleged that the vessels were operated by groups it designated as narcoterrorists, including the Venezuelan crime syndicate Tren de Aragua and the Colombian far-left guerilla group National Liberation Army, but has not publicized any evidence for the allegations. The US began deploying Navy warships and personnel to the Caribbean in mid-August. Trump announced on 2 September that the US Navy had carried out the first airstrike in the Caribbean on a boat from Venezuela, killing all eleven people on the vessel; he released a video of the incident, which Venezuelan sources said had occurred on 1 September. The US continued to publicly indicate that military operations against drug cartels in Venezuela would continue. As of 18 December 2025, at least 104 people have been killed in at least 28 strikes on 29 vessels. The strikes came amid tensions between the United States and Venezuela as Trump steadily increased pressure. Maduro has repeatedly accused the US of seeking regime change which some third party sources agree with. Experts, human rights groups and international bodies said the killings were illegal under US and international law, and the Colombian and Venezuelan governments have accused the US of extrajudicial murder. As of 6 November, the Republican-controlled US Senate has twice rejected resolutions that would limit Trump's authority to continue military action against Venezuela or airstrikes against alleged drug vessels.

Infobox

Type
Airstrikes
Target
Vessels crewed by alleged drug traffickers
Planned by
United States
Executed by
United States Navy
Locations
Caribbean SeaPacific Ocean
Casualties
104 killed (includes 1 missing and presumed dead) 2 captured and repatriated
Date
1 September 2025 – present

Tables

Strikes by the United States military[14] · Airstrikes on vessels › Summary of strikes
1
1
No.
1
Date
1–2 September 2025
Location
Caribbean – Venezuela
No. vessels
1
Killed
11
Source and notes
Most sources list as 2 September, the day Trump announced the strike; Venezuelan sources state the vessel was struck the day before it was announced. Three months later, subsequent strikes that killed two survivors were revealed.
2
2
No.
2
Date
15 September 2025
Location
Caribbean – Venezuela
No. vessels
1
Killed
3
Source and notes
Gustavo Petro alleges one casualty was a Colombian fisherman
3
3
No.
3
Date
19 September 2025
Location
Caribbean
No. vessels
1
Killed
3
Source and notes
Dominican Republic recovers cocaine
4
4
No.
4
Date
3 October 2025
Location
Caribbean – Venezuela
No. vessels
1
Killed
4
Source and notes
First strike after notification of "armed conflict"
5
5
No.
5
Date
14 October 2025
Location
Caribbean – Venezuela
No. vessels
1
Killed
6
Source and notes
Family says one missing was from Trinidad and Tobago
6
6
No.
6
Date
16 October 2025
Location
Caribbean
No. vessels
1
Killed
2
Captured
2
Source and notes
Two survivors repatriated to Colombia and Ecuador
7
7
No.
7
Date
17 October 2025
Location
Caribbean
No. vessels
1
Killed
3
Source and notes
Allegedly affiliated with Colombian ELN
8
8
No.
8
Date
21 October 2025
Location
Pacific
No. vessels
1
Killed
2
Source and notes
First strike in Eastern Pacific, allegedly off Colombian coast
9
9
No.
9
Date
22 October 2025
Location
Pacific
No. vessels
1
Killed
3
10
10
No.
10
Date
24 October 2025
Location
Caribbean – Venezuela
No. vessels
1
Killed
6
11–13
11–13
No.
11–13
Date
27 October 2025
Location
Pacific
No. vessels
4
Killed
14
Missing/Presumeddead
1
Source and notes
Three strikes on four vessels leave one survivor, presumed dead
14
14
No.
14
Date
29 October 2025
Location
Pacific
No. vessels
1
Killed
4
15
15
No.
15
Date
1 November 2025
Location
Caribbean
No. vessels
1
Killed
3
16
16
No.
16
Date
4 November 2025
Location
Pacific
No. vessels
1
Killed
2
17
17
No.
17
Date
6 November 2025
Location
Caribbean
No. vessels
1
Killed
3
18–19
18–19
No.
18–19
Date
9 November 2025
Location
Pacific
No. vessels
2
Killed
6
Source and notes
Two vessels, three killed on each
20
20
No.
20
Date
10 November 2025
Location
Caribbean
No. vessels
1
Killed
4
21
21
No.
21
Date
15 November 2025
Location
Pacific
No. vessels
1
Killed
3
Source and notes
First strike after formal unveiling of Operation Southern Spear
22
22
No.
22
Date
4 December 2025
Location
Pacific
No. vessels
1
Killed
4
23–25
23–25
No.
23–25
Date
15 December 2025
Location
Pacific
No. vessels
3
Killed
8
26
26
No.
26
Date
17 December 2025
Location
Pacific
No. vessels
1
Killed
4
27–28
27–28
No.
27–28
Date
18 December 2025
Location
Pacific
No. vessels
2
Killed
5
No.
Date
Location
No. vessels
Killed
Captured
Missing/Presumeddead
Source and notes
1
1–2 September 2025
Caribbean – Venezuela
1
11
Most sources list as 2 September, the day Trump announced the strike; Venezuelan sources state the vessel was struck the day before it was announced. Three months later, subsequent strikes that killed two survivors were revealed.
2
15 September 2025
Caribbean – Venezuela
1
3
Gustavo Petro alleges one casualty was a Colombian fisherman
3
19 September 2025
Caribbean
1
3
Dominican Republic recovers cocaine
4
3 October 2025
Caribbean – Venezuela
1
4
First strike after notification of "armed conflict"
5
14 October 2025
Caribbean – Venezuela
1
6
Family says one missing was from Trinidad and Tobago
6
16 October 2025
Caribbean
1
2
2
Two survivors repatriated to Colombia and Ecuador
7
17 October 2025
Caribbean
1
3
Allegedly affiliated with Colombian ELN
8
21 October 2025
Pacific
1
2
First strike in Eastern Pacific, allegedly off Colombian coast
9
22 October 2025
Pacific
1
3
10
24 October 2025
Caribbean – Venezuela
1
6
11–13
27 October 2025
Pacific
4
14
1
Three strikes on four vessels leave one survivor, presumed dead
14
29 October 2025
Pacific
1
4
15
1 November 2025
Caribbean
1
3
16
4 November 2025
Pacific
1
2
17
6 November 2025
Caribbean
1
3
18–19
9 November 2025
Pacific
2
6
Two vessels, three killed on each
20
10 November 2025
Caribbean
1
4
21
15 November 2025
Pacific
1
3
First strike after formal unveiling of Operation Southern Spear
22
4 December 2025
Pacific
1
4
23–25
15 December 2025
Pacific
3
8
26
17 December 2025
Pacific
1
4
27–28
18 December 2025
Pacific
2
5

References

  1. See Carlos Salazar X post with video of journalist Sebastiana Barraez, who states at timestamp 1:50 that the boat passen
  2. Sources published on 3 October would refer to the 3 October strike as the fifth vessel sunk, accounting for a 16 Septemb
  3. Petro referred to la última lancha bombardeada (the last bombed boat), which some sources reported as the 3 October stri
  4. The strike was described as the fourth or fifth vessel struck, if counting the 16 September announcement by Trump.
  5. The CDC estimates that in 2023, Kentucky had 2,077 drug overdose deaths and Ohio had 4,745 drug overdose deaths; while 2
  6. "Here's what the US military is using to strike alleged drug boats"
    https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/politics/military-strikes-platforms-caribbean-pacific
  7. The Wall Street Journal
    https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/trump-invokes-post-9-11-playbook-in-attacks-on-drug-cartels-137515ea
  8. The Guardian
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  9. "Venezuela's Maduro says 'no way' U.S. can invade after Washington deploys warships to region"
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  10. "US deploys warships near Venezuela to combat drug threats, sources say"
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  11. Time
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  12. Navy Times
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  13. PBS News Hour
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  14. "U.S. strikes 2 more alleged drug boats in Pacific, bringing total death count to over 100"
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/strikes-two-more-alleged-drug-boats-total-death-count-over-100/
  15. The New York Times
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  16. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/31/us/politics/us-boat-strike-survivor.html
  17. "US military strikes another boat in the Caribbean, killing 3"
    https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/06/politics/us-military-caribbean-boat-strike-kills-3
  18. "U.S. conducts 20th strike on alleged drug boat, killing 4 people in Caribbean Sea"
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-20th-strike-alleged-drug-boat-killing-4-people-caribbean/
  19. "Timeline: US strikes on alleged drug boats"
    https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/timeline-us-strikes-alleged-drug-boats/story?id=126940218
  20. "4 killed in latest US strike on alleged drug boat in Eastern Pacific: Hegseth"
    https://abcnews.go.com/International/4-killed-latest-us-strike-alleged-drug-boat/story?id=127000424
  21. "Trump says 11 killed in US strike on drug-carrying vessel from Venezuela"
    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpwywjgynyxo
  22. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/us/politics/trump-venezuela-boat-drugs-attack.html
  23. El Pitazo
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  24. El Nacional
    https://web.archive.org/web/20250904181132/https://www.elnacional.com/2025/09/lancha-destruida-por-ee-uu-zarpo-de-san-juan-de-unare/
  25. Miami Herald
    https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/venezuela/article311945815.html
  26. USA Today
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/09/02/us-military-caribbean-sea-strike-drug-boat/85945169007/
  27. "Rubio says US military conducted lethal strike against drug vessel from Venezuela"
    https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/rubio-says-us-military-conducted-lethal-strike-against-drug-vessel-venezuela-2025-09-02/
  28. "Trump weighs strikes targeting cartels inside Venezuela, part of wider pressure campaign on Maduro, sources say"
    https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/05/politics/trump-weighs-strikes-targeting-cartels-inside-venezuela
  29. The Wall Street Journal
    https://archive.today/20250905005841/https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/did-a-boat-strike-in-caribbean-exceed-trumps-authority-to-use-military-force-828db8c6
  30. Venezuela Investigative Unit
    https://insightcrime.org/news/us-drone-strike-highlights-sucre-role-venezuela-cocaine-corridor
  31. El Nacional
    https://www.elnacional.com/2025/09/difunden-fotos-de-las-personas-que-supuestamente-viajaban-en-la-lancha-que-destruyo-ee-uu-en-el-caribe/
  32. Efecto Cocuyo
    https://efectococuyo.com/sucesos/san-juan-de-unare-un-pueblo-de-pescadores-atrapado-en-la-red-del-narcotrafico/
  33. El Pitazo
    https://elpitazo.net/alianzas/que-se-sabe-del-bombardeo-de-estados-unidos-a-una-lancha-en-el-caribe/
  34. El País
    https://english.elpais.com/international/2025-09-05/the-mystery-of-the-boat-pulverized-by-a-missile-in-the-middle-of-the-caribbean.html
  35. "El pueblo venezolano de pescadores de donde se afirma que salió la lancha fulminada por Trump"
    https://www.france24.com/es/am%C3%A9rica-latina/20250906-el-pueblo-venezolano-de-pescadores-de-donde-se-afirma-que-sali%C3%B3-la-lancha-fulminada-por-trump
  36. Al Jazeera
    https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/17/how-many-times-has-the-us-struck-venezuelan-vessels
  37. Trinidad Express Newspapers
    https://trinidadexpress.com/newsextra/drug-boat-65-miles-away-from-t-t/article_39c4dfdb-30f2-4d1d-85b1-8bcc185ab701.html
  38. The Times
    https://www.thetimes.com/world/latin-america/article/maduro-venezuela-us-military-intervention-pz7vbn0rp
  39. "Alleged drug-smuggling boat from Venezuela was turning back when hit, sources say"
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/venezuela-drug-boat-turning-around-us-strike/
  40. "Vessel struck by US military off Venezuela was heading back to shore, AP sources say"
    https://apnews.com/article/trump-military-drugs-boat-venezuela-5d28da68e3ea1b5b1b14829af8aadd7b
  41. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/11/28/hegseth-kill-them-all-survivors-boat-strike/
  42. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/29/pete-hegseth-denies-ordering-deaths-narco-boat
  43. USA Today
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/11/29/pete-hegseth-kill-them-all-caribbean-boat-strikes/87524160007/
  44. "US military carried out second strike killing survivors on a suspected drug boat that had already been attacked, sources say"
    https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/28/politics/us-military-second-strike-caribbean
  45. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/us/hegseth-drug-boat-strike-order-venezuela.html
  46. "White House says admiral directed second strike that killed alleged drug boat survivors in 'self defense'"
    https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/drug-boat-second-strike-white-house-b2875966.html
  47. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/04/video-second-boat-strike-military-caribbean
  48. "Admiral told lawmakers everyone on alleged drug boat was on a list of military targets"
    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/admiral-told-lawmakers-everyone-alleged-drug-boat-was-list-military-ta-rcna247767
  49. Bertrand, Natasha
    https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/05/politics/suriname-boat-strike-bradley
  50. "White House confirms second Sept. 2 strike on alleged drug boat"
    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/white-house-confirms-second-sept-2-strike-alleged-drug-boat-rcna246834
  51. The Times
    https://www.thetimes.com/us/american-politics/article/venezuela-phone-call-trump-ultimatum-scr2gf9ks
  52. New York
    https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/pete-hegseth-boat-strike-order-war-crime-congress-trump.html
  53. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/03/trump-officials-boat-strikes-legal-analysis
  54. "Trump announces second US strike on alleged drug traffickers"
    https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/15/trump-announces-second-us-strike-on-alleged-drug-traffickers-00564537
  55. "Trump announces second U.S. strike against alleged drug boat from Venezuela"
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-strike-second-alleged-venezuela-drug-boat/
  56. Politico
    https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/19/third-drug-boat-strike-00574331
  57. El Pitazo
    https://elpitazo.net/politica/claves-ataque-de-ee-uu-a-primera-narcolancha-en-el-caribe-cumple-un-mes-que-ha-pasado-en-este-tiempo/
  58. Miami Herald
    https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/venezuela/article312371001.html
  59. NTN24
    https://www.ntn24.com/noticias-actualidad/estados-unidos-confirmo-la-destruccion-de-quinta-lancha-con-drogas-en-el-caribe-583308
  60. "How many US strikes on boats near Venezuela have there been?"
    https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/how-many-us-strikes-boats-near-venezuela-have-there-been-2025-10-17/
  61. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/world/americas/colombia-citizens-boat-us-bombed.html
  62. El Tiempo
    https://www.eltiempo.com/politica/gobierno/a-su-llegada-a-belgica-el-presidente-gustavo-petro-afirmo-que-seria-colombiana-la-lancha-mas-recientemente-bombardeada-por-ee-uu-3498092
  63. The Guardian
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  64. The Associated Press
    https://apnews.com/article/colombia-petro-venezuela-trump-boat-attack-caribbean-coast-585f27fc04826f2c8af8e220b716921c
  65. "Colombia's president says boat struck by US was carrying Colombians"
    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c89dz920p0do
  66. abc News
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  67. El Tiempo
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  68. The Sunday Times
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  69. "Trump ends aid to Colombia and calls country's leader a 'drug leader'"
    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn8xg1jve73o
  70. ABC News
    https://abcnews.go.com/US/hegseth-announces-us-attack-alleged-drug-boat-off/story?id=126188707
  71. "U.S. conducts fourth strike on boat it claims was trafficking drugs near Venezuela"
    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/us-conducts-fourth-strike-boat-claims-was-trafficking-drugs-venezuela-rcna235517
  72. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/us/politics/trump-drugs-boat-attack.html
  73. The Hill
    https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5554958-trump-us-military-venezuela-strike/
  74. "Trump says U.S. struck 5th boat accused of carrying drugs off coast of Venezuela, killing 6"
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-venezuela-boat-drugs/
  75. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/16/airstrike-venezuela-trinidad-us-death-investigation
  76. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/24/us-military-strike-alleged-drug-boat-caribbean
  77. "U.S. carried out a strike on another alleged drug-carrying boat in the Caribbean Sea, Pete Hegseth says"
    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/us-strike-drug-boat-rcna239564
  78. Associated Press News
    https://apnews.com/article/strike-drug-smuggling-vessel-275ab9837373a928aa3376e50d8d39b0
  79. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/19/us/politics/trump-boat-strike-drugs.html
  80. The Associated Press
    https://apnews.com/article/cocaine-speedboat-trump-dominican-republic-e42c255ec0e8d5c2d85a7670d12adfdf
  81. "Exclusive: In a first, US strike in Caribbean leaves survivors, US official says"
    https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-carries-out-new-strike-caribbean-there-are-survivors-us-official-says-2025-10-16/
  82. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/17/survivors-caribbean-boat-strike-us-military-custody#
  83. "Exclusive: U.S. Navy warship holding survivors from strike on Caribbean vessel, sources say"
    https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-military-holding-rescued-strike-survivors-navy-ship-sources-say-2025-10-17/
  84. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/us/politics/boat-strike-survivors.html
  85. "Trump calls Colombia's Petro an 'illegal drug leader' and announces an end to US aid to the country"
    https://apnews.com/article/trump-petro-colombia-drugs-us-aid-c3955b2ce351737119920741178e0567
  86. "Exclusive: US returning Caribbean strike survivors to Colombia and Ecuador, Trump says"
    https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-set-transfer-caribbean-strike-survivors-overseas-instead-pow-style-detention-2025-10-18/
  87. "Trump administration strikes a seventh alleged drug boat, killing 3, Hegseth says"
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/strikes-seventh-alleged-drug-boat-killing-3-hegseth/
  88. "Colombia ELN rebels deny any involvement with alleged drug boat destroyed by US"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20251022122605/https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/colombia-eln-rebels-deny-any-involvement-with-alleged-drug-boat-destroyed-by-us-2025-10-21/
  89. "US military strikes another alleged drug-trafficking boat in the Caribbean, killing 3"
    https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/02/politics/us-strikes-drug-boat-caribbean-intl-hnk
  90. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/02/three-killed-in-us-military-strike-on-alleged-drug-vessel-in-the-caribbean
  91. "Senate rejects bipartisan resolution that would block Trump military action against Venezuela"
    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-rejects-resolution-block-trump-military-action-venezuela-rcna242485
  92. "US military strikes suspected drug vessel in the Pacific"
    https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-military-strikes-suspected-drug-vessel-pacific-2025-10-22/
  93. "U.S. strikes 8th alleged drug vessel, this time on the Pacific side"
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-strikes-8th-drug-vessel-pacific-side/
  94. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/us/politics/trump-drug-boat-strike-colombia.html
  95. "A timeline of U.S. attacks off South America and what Congress has had to say"
    https://apnews.com/article/trump-boat-strikes-caribbean-military-venezuela-timeline-2dd9d16f4f74d9dfa4aca76d3123678d
  96. "US military strikes 4 boats in the Pacific, killing 14, in ramp-up of campaign against alleged drug trafficking"
    https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/28/politics/multiple-boats-us-military-strikes-pacific
  97. "U.S. strikes 4 more alleged drug boats in the Pacific, killing 14 and leaving 1 survivor"
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-boat-strikes-pacific-ocean-hegseth/
  98. Mexico News Daily
    https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/mexico-seeks-lone-survivor-us-strikes/
  99. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/28/latest-boat-strikes-caribbean-hegseth-trump
  100. "Trump administration announces 16th deadly strike on an alleged drug boat"
    https://apnews.com/article/boat-strikes-drug-cartels-hegseth-trump-deec973bc09899e6b586f121beb466f4
  101. "6 killed in U.S. strikes on 2 more alleged drug boats in eastern Pacific"
    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/6-killed-us-strikes-2-alleged-drug-boats-eastern-pacific-rcna242978
  102. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/16/pentagon-military-drug-boat-strike
  103. "U.S. military announces latest strike on an alleged drug boat in the eastern Pacific"
    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/trump-administration-announces-latest-strike-alleged-drug-boat-eastern-rcna244232
  104. "US military carried out 21st strike on alleged drug boat, killing 3"
    https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/16/politics/us-military-drug-boat-strike-21
  105. "US strikes another boat in the Eastern Pacific, killing four, amid escalating questions about its counter-drug offensive"
    https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/04/politics/us-strike-eastern-pacific-drug-boat
  106. "U.S. hits 3 more alleged drug boats in Pacific, killing 8, military says"
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-administration-hits-3-more-alleged-drug-boats-in-pacific-killing-8-military-says/
  107. "US military says it conducted strike on a vessel in the Eastern Pacific, killing four men"
    https://www.reuters.com/world/us-military-says-it-conducted-strike-vessel-eastern-pacific-killing-four-men-2025-12-18/
  108. "Trump declares drug cartels operating in Caribbean unlawful combatants"
    https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/trump-declares-drug-cartels-operating-caribbean-unlawful-combatants-126157955
  109. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/us/politics/trump-drug-cartels-war.html
  110. Miami Herald
    https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/venezuela/article312357717.html
  111. Financial Times
    https://www.ft.com/content/bd217091-84bb-4af2-b08b-9d9556dbb6d6
  112. The Wall Street Journal
    https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/trumps-threats-and-military-strikes-turn-up-heat-on-latin-america-984cc01b
  113. The Wall Street Journal
    https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/u-s-eyes-striking-venezuelan-military-targets-used-for-drug-trafficking-cafcfe47?
  114. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/us/politics/southern-command-head-stepping-down.html
  115. The Wall Street Journal
    https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/hegseth-asked-top-admiral-to-resign-after-months-of-discord-9e7b357f?
  116. Miami Herald
    https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/venezuela/article312909870.html
  117. The Hill
    https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5606868-operation-southern-spear-announced/
  118. Miami Herald
    https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/venezuela/article312722642.html
  119. "What a reporter found when she investigated US military strikes on Venezuelan drug boats"
    https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-boat-strikes-drugs-cocaine-trafficking-e4fcf945e48e36bf2c510f9f111e031c
  120. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/07/us-strikes-another-alleged-drug-boat-latin-america
  121. "Trump has accused boat crews of being narco-terrorists. The truth, AP found, is more nuanced"
    https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-boat-strikes-drugs-cocaine-trafficking-95b54a3a5efec74f12f82396a79617ea
  122. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/world/americas/trinidad-us-military-venezuela-boats.html
  123. "Exclusive: Dozens killed in U.S. boat strikes remain unidentified"
    https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/exclusive-dozens-killed-us-boat-strikes-remain-unidentified-rcna242339
  124. "Colombian killed in U.S. strike was on a fishing trip, wife claims: 'Why did they just take his life like that?"
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/colombian-killed-us-strike-fisherman-wife-says/
  125. El País
    https://www.elpais.com.co/colombia/pescador-que-petro-defendio-tras-ataque-de-ee-uu-estuvo-preso-por-el-robo-de-264-armas-este-es-su-presunto-prontuario-criminal-1958.html
  126. El Tiempo
    https://www.eltiempo.com/justicia/delitos/el-expediente-por-robo-de-armas-contra-coroncoro-el-pescador-que-iba-en-lancha-atacada-por-ee-uu-en-aguas-del-caribe-3501453
  127. El Tiempo
    https://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/otras-ciudades/ya-no-estamos-solos-familia-de-alejandro-carranza-celebra-designacion-del-abogado-del-presidente-gustavo-petro-en-el-caso-contra-estados-unidos-3513563
  128. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/02/trump-caribbean-drug-boat-attack-complaint
  129. "He survived a US military boat strike. Despite a drug record, his family says he's a fisherman caught in Trump's war at sea"
    https://edition.cnn.com/2025/10/22/americas/caribbean-strike-survivor-ecuador-drug-smuggling-latam-intl
  130. "Ecuador releases survivor of US strike on 'drug sub' in Caribbean"
    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn97vl7vy7xo
  131. "Ecuador releases survivor of U.S. strike on alleged 'narco sub,' says no evidence he committed a crime"
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ecuador-releases-survivor-us-strike-narco-sub-no-evidence-crime/
  132. El País
    https://english.elpais.com/international/2025-10-24/in-the-footsteps-of-the-colombian-survivor-of-trumps-strike-against-alleged-drug-submarine.html
  133. El Estimulo
    https://elestimulo.com/internacionales/2025-11-06/colombia-sobreviviente-submarino-narcotrafico-jeison-obando/
  134. The Telegraph
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/11/11/trump-boat-strikes-drug-traffickers/
  135. Cronica Uno
    https://cronica.uno/san-juan-unare-llora-ocho-muertos-ataque-ee-uu-chavismo-tilda-invento/
  136. The New York Times
    https://web.archive.org/web/20251023200244/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/23/world/americas/trinidad-bodies-us-strike-venezuela.html
  137. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/09/03/us-strikes-venezuela-alleged-drug-boat/
  138. Time
    https://time.com/7314230/venezuela-boat-strike-cartels-hegseth-pentagon/
  139. "Reporter: What legal authority did the Pentagon invoke to strike that boat? [Video, 00:30 sec.]"
    https://x.com/atrupar/status/1963785565347717182
  140. The New Republic
    https://newrepublic.com/post/200033/pete-hegseth-absolute-authority-drug-boat-strike
  141. "Eight days later, questions linger about Venezuela boat strike"
    https://www.reuters.com/world/us/eight-days-later-questions-linger-about-venezuela-boat-strike-2025-09-10/
  142. Pincus, Walter
    https://www.thecipherbrief.com/cartels-trump-expanding-war
  143. FactCheck.org
    https://www.factcheck.org/2025/09/trump-again-overstates-number-of-drug-overdose-deaths-in-u-s/
  144. "U.S. Overdose Deaths Decrease Almost 27% in 2024"
    https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/releases/20250514.html
  145. People
    https://people.com/trump-incorrectly-claims-300-million-people-died-of-drug-overdoses-last-year-11812276
  146. "User Clip: 300 Million People Died Last Year From Drugs"
    https://www.c-span.org/clip/white-house-event/user-clip-300-million-people-died-last-year-from-drugs/5173809
  147. "Trump claims Venezuela's Maduro is a drug-trafficking threat to the US. Does the data back him up?"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20250901203659/https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/01/americas/trump-venezuela-maduro-drug-threat-analysis-intl-latam
  148. "Trump doubles reward to $50 million for arrest of Venezuela's president to face U.S. drug charges"
    https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/08/americas/nicolas-maduro-50-million-reward-trump-administration-latam-intl
  149. The Straits Times
    https://www.straitstimes.com/world/venezuela-rejects-ridiculous-us-plan-to-designate-cartel-de-los-soles-as-terrorist-organization
  150. Insight Crime
    https://insightcrime.org/news/us-sanctions-mischaracterize-cartel-of-the-suns-venezuela/
  151. The Independent
    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-venezuela-drug-boat-attack-video-b2819566.html
  152. "Going to War with the Cartels: The Military Implications"
    https://www.csis.org/analysis/going-war-cartels-military-implications
  153. "US strike on 'Venezuela drug boat': What do we know, and was it legal?"
    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdjzw3gplv7o
  154. Oxford Reference
    https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095946378
  155. WTVJ-TV
    https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/6-killed-after-another-u-s-strike-on-boat-carrying-drugs-off-venezuela-trump/3706212/
  156. politico.com
    https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/16/trump-gop-officials-strikes-venezuela-00567212
  157. "'This Is Murder': Trump Bombs Another Boat in Caribbean"
    https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-bomb
  158. "UN experts say US strikes against Venezuela in international waters amount to 'extrajudicial executions'"
    https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/un-experts-say-us-strikes-against-venezuela-international-waters-amount-2025-10-21/
  159. "UN human rights chief says US strikes on alleged drug boats are 'unacceptable'"
    https://apnews.com/article/un-us-military-strikes-south-america-ed0ce092af5ad2c64b34ed51f8ab59cc
  160. NPR
    https://www.npr.org/2025/09/16/g-s1-88985/u-s-military-again-targeted-boat-carrying-drugs-venezuela
  161. Democracy Now!
    https://www.democracynow.org/2025/9/5/greg_grandin
  162. BBC
    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd9kgqwnk8wo
  163. El País
    https://english.elpais.com/international/2025-12-03/family-of-colombian-fisherman-killed-in-strike-in-the-caribbean-files-formal-complaint-against-us.html
  164. Democracy Now!
    https://www.democracynow.org/2025/12/8/pete_hegseth_boat_strikes_war_crimes
  165. The New York Times
    https://archive.today/20251102141756/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/01/us/politics/trump-boat-attacks-war-powers.html
  166. The Intercept
    https://theintercept.com/2025/10/08/venezuela-boat-strikes-senate-war-powers/
  167. The Atlantic
    https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/archive/2025/09/the-military-wasnt-built-to-fight-crime/684101/
  168. Lawfare
    https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/venezuelan-boat-attacks--utterly-unprecedented-and-patently-predictable
  169. AP News
    https://apnews.com/article/boat-strikes-survivors-hegseth-72b0a498ca08615b2589c772a1d9e642
  170. Al Jazeera English
    https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/6/can-us-strikes-on-suspected-drug-boats-off-venezuela-be-legally-justified
  171. Financial Times
    https://www.ft.com/content/5566148e-f181-40fd-bae1-7d05fbdfa233
  172. Time
    https://time.com/7337735/pete-hegseth-boat-strike-caribbean/
  173. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/us/politics/trump-boat-strikes-war-crime.html
  174. "Senate passes $901 billion defense bill that pushes Hegseth for boat strike video"
    https://apnews.com/article/defense-bill-boat-strikes-hegseth-a0886906eb50432c38a4d5bf08e6a719
  175. "US military kills 11 people in strike on alleged drug boat from Venezuela, Trump says"
    https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-military-kills-11-people-strike-alleged-drug-boat-venezuela-trump-says-2025-09-03/
  176. ABC News
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-04/us-drugs-war-could-spark-nicolas-maduro-venezuela-regime-change/105733226
  177. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/11/venezuela-boat-strike-tren-de-aragua-trump
  178. El Pitazo
    https://elpitazo.net/politica/vecino-de-un-fallecido-en-lancha-bombardeada-por-ee-uu-afirma-que-si-llevaban-droga/
  179. El Pitazo
    https://elpitazo.net/ultimas-noticias/tarek-william-saab-dice-que-ataque-de-ee-uu-hacia-una-lancha-en-el-caribe-nunca-ocurrio/
  180. "Hegseth says US deployment in Caribbean 'isn't training' on Puerto Rico visit"
    https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-defense-secretary-tells-sailors-off-puerto-rico-this-isnt-training-2025-09-09/
  181. USA Today
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/09/07/rand-paul-lashes-jd-vance-venezuela-drug-boat-comments/86022532007/
  182. CDC
    https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/state-stats/deaths/drug-overdose.html
  183. U.S. News & World Report
    https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2025-05-14/cdc-provisional-data-shows-dramatic-drop-in-drug-overdose-deaths
  184. "JD Vance's response to killing suspected drug traffickers has even Republicans questioning his judgment"
    https://www.cleveland.com/news/2025/09/jd-vances-response-to-killing-suspected-drug-traffickers-has-even-republicans-questioning-his-judgment.html
  185. Sen. Mark Warner says Senate intelligence was not briefed ahead of Venezuelan boat strike
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uZv7HZvI88
  186. "Trump officials cancel bipartisan briefing on Venezuela strike"
    https://www.axios.com/2025/09/05/trump-drug-boat-strike-venezuela-meeting
  187. Reuters
    https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/democrats-excluded-briefing-us-military-strikes-off-south-america-senator-says-2025-10-30
  188. The Hill
    https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5614881-trump-calls-democrats-traitors/
  189. "When Lawmakers Lecture the Military: Why the 'Unlawful Orders' Video Invites Confusion"
    https://www.military.com/feature/2025/11/20/when-lawmakers-lecture-military-why-unlawful-orders-video-misses-point.html
  190. "Pentagon says it's investigating Sen. Mark Kelly for video urging troops to defy 'illegal orders'"
    https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-mark-kelly-troop-investigation-4882f76b05dcdfa3060c284c2c84dd12
  191. Vanity Fair
    https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/trump-susie-wiles-interview-exclusive-part-2
  192. ABC News
    https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/susie-wiles-calls-bondi-vance-trump-vanity-fair/story?id=128449325
  193. "Trinidad and Tobago leader praises strike and says US should kill all drug traffickers 'violently'"
    https://apnews.com/article/trinidad-caribbean-us-strike-boat-drugs-f0529291209ffbf4162340df7860ba4c
  194. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/17/trump-caribbean-venezuela-trinidad-boat-strikes
  195. Barron's
    https://www.barrons.com/news/us-aircraft-carrier-in-latin-america-fuels-venezuelan-fears-of-attack-17dfb875?
  196. "Ministros dicen que Colombia seguirá trabajando con agencias de EEUU pese a orden de Petro"
    https://efectococuyo.com/internacionales/ministros-dicen-que-colombia-seguira-trabajando-con-agencias-de-eeuu-pese-a-orden-de-petro/
  197. La Jornada
    https://www.jornada.com.mx/noticia/2025/09/06/mundo/brasil-no-tomara-partido-en-conflicto-entre-eu-y-venezuela-lula-da-silva
  198. Runrunes
    https://runrun.es/inicio/589242/brasil-estara-del-lado-de-la-paz-lula-sobre-tensiones-venezuela-eeuu/?tztc=1
  199. Al Jazeera
    https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/8/brazils-lula-says-us-warships-in-caribbean-are-a-source-of
  200. "Trump takes aim at other countries' border and climate policies in wide-ranging UN speech - live updates"
    https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cp3qxyen1xkt?post=asset%3A3ed93171-b84d-48ed-bd52-2f9e7606dd4f#post
  201. El País
    https://english.elpais.com/international/2025-11-13/mexico-to-intercept-suspected-drug-boats-to-prevent-further-us-bombings.html#
  202. Foreign Policy
    https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/10/latin-america-trump-drug-boat-war-venezuela-maduro/
  203. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/12/us-strikes-against-boats-in-caribbean-disregard-international-law-french-minister-says
  204. "French foreign minister says US military operations in Caribbean violate international law"
    https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/french-foreign-minister-says-us-military-operations-caribbean-violate-2025-11-11/
  205. "France condemns US military buildup in Caribbean as G7 talks open in Canada"
    https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20251112-france-usa-military-caribbean-g7-canada
  206. "Why U.S. strikes on suspected drug boats have Canada 'between a rock and a hard place'"
    https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/us-airstrikes-caribbean-drug-smugglers-9.6932751
  207. "Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break"
    https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/politics/uk-suspends-caribbean-intelligence-sharing-us
  208. "U.K. withholds intelligence on alleged drug boats over U.S. strikes, sources say"
    https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/uk-withholds-intelligence-alleged-drug-boats-us-strikes-sources-say-rcna243616
  209. "Yvette Cooper plays down reports that UK halted intelligence sharing with US"
    https://news.sky.com/story/yvette-cooper-plays-down-reports-that-uk-halted-intelligence-sharing-with-us-13471726
  210. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/nov/11/uk-suspends-intelligence-sharing-with-us-amid-airstikes-in-the-caribbean
  211. "Rubio denies reporting that UK cut off intel sharing over boat strikes"
    https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/rubio-denies-reporting-that-uk-cut-intel-sharing-over-boat-strikes-2025-11-12/
  212. "Europeans largely skip Latin American summit under Donald Trump's shadow"
    https://sg.news.yahoo.com/europeans-largely-skip-latin-american-063004528.html
  213. The Miami Herald
    https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/venezuela/article312768769.html
  214. The Jerusalem Post
    https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-866239
  215. The Sunday Times
    https://www.thetimes.com/us/american-politics/article/war-on-drugs-or-regime-change-trumps-gamble-over-venezuela-gg2fcn5jc
  216. Associated Press
    https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-migrants-us-441229638a27420cad3de1e07f73a494
  217. "September 2025 – Harvard CAPS / Harris Poll"
    https://harvardharrispoll.com/press-release-september-2025/
  218. "Just 29% of Americans support US military killing drug suspects, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds"
    https://www.reuters.com/world/us/just-29-americans-support-us-military-killing-drug-suspects-reutersipsos-poll-2025-11-14/
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