Death Toll Rises to 70 in US Anti-Drug Campaign
American forces have conducted another strike on an alleged drug trafficking vessel in the Caribbean, resulting in three fatalities and bringing the total death count from the Trump administration's controversial campaign to at least 70 people.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the latest operation, which targeted what he described as a vessel operated by a designated terrorist organisation in international waters.
Military Buildup and Congressional Approval
The United States began executing these strikes in early September, focusing on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. The campaign has seen significant military resources deployed to the region, including six Navy ships in the Caribbean, F-35 stealth warplanes stationed in Puerto Rico, and the USS Gerald R Ford carrier strike group.
On Thursday, the US Senate blocked a Democratic war powers resolution that would have required President Trump to seek congressional approval for strikes in Venezuela. This decision leaves the president with unchecked authority to expand his military campaign in the region.
The administration has developed multiple options for military action in Venezuela, according to sources familiar with the matter, and has sought additional legal guidance that could justify striking targets beyond maritime vessels.
Controversy and Civilian Casualties
Despite destroying at least 18 vessels – comprising 17 boats and one semi-submersible – Washington has not publicly presented concrete evidence demonstrating that these targets were smuggling narcotics or posed a direct threat to American security.
Governments and families of those killed have contested the official narrative, asserting that many victims were civilian fishermen rather than drug traffickers. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who faces US drug charges, has repeatedly accused the Trump administration of attempting to remove him from power.
Hegseth released footage of the latest strike on his X account, though sections were obscured for unspecified reasons. In his social media post, he issued a stark warning: "To all narco-terrorists who threaten our homeland: if you want to stay alive, stop trafficking drugs. If you keep trafficking deadly drugs – we will kill you."
The Trump administration has formally notified Congress that the United States is engaged in "armed conflict" with Latin American drug cartels, classifying them as terrorist organisations to legally justify the ongoing strikes.
