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The Trump administration has significantly escalated its counter-narcotics strategy, conducting a series of lethal military strikes against suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Since early September 2025, the U.S. military has carried out more than a dozen attacks, part of an initiative dubbed "Operation Southern Spear," resulting in over 70 fatalities.
The strikes represent a major shift in tactics, employing military-grade force typically reserved for combat zones. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has confirmed multiple strikes, stating they target "narcoterrorists" affiliated with South American cartels. The administration has formally notified Congress that it considers the U.S. to be in an "armed conflict" with these drug cartels, a legal justification for the use of lethal force. According to reports, the military is deploying advanced assets like MQ-9 Reaper drones to execute these high-precision attacks on small, fast-moving boats.
The initial strikes were concentrated in the Caribbean, many near the coast of Venezuela. However, the operation has since expanded, with several attacks reported in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. In one publicly announced incident, three strikes in the Pacific killed 14 individuals. The administration releases videos of some attacks, portraying them as necessary actions to stop the flow of deadly substances into the United States. The total number of strikes has been steadily rising, with announcements often made by top defense officials days after the events.
This aggressive approach has drawn sharp criticism and ignited a fierce debate over its legality and consequences. Critics, including Democratic lawmakers and legal scholars, question the administration's authority to use lethal military force against civilians outside a congressionally authorized war. The central legal controversy revolves around the classification of these operations as a legitimate "armed conflict" rather than a law enforcement matter. Concerns are also mounting over the potential for civilian casualties and the lack of due process for those targeted, who are killed without being arrested or tried.
