U.S. military says it killed 4 in strike on alleged drug-smuggling boat in Caribbean

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A projectile approaches a vessel, which the U.S. military alleges was involved in drug trafficking, during a strike at a location given as the Caribbean, in this still image taken from video released September 19, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters

The U.S. military attacked a boat suspected of being used to smuggle drugs in the Caribbean Sea, killing four people, as the Trump administration continues its months-long campaign against alleged traffickers in Latin America.

The attack on Saturday (September 19, 2026) brings the number of people who have been killed in boat strikes by the U.S. military to at least 231 in 69 strikes since the Trump administration began targeting those it calls “narcoterrorists” almost a year ago.

As with most of the military's statements on strikes in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, U.S. Southern Command said it targeted the alleged drug traffickers along known smuggling routes.

The military did not provide evidence that the vessel was ferrying drugs. A video posted on X showed an image of what appeared to be a moving boat followed by a flash.

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The Trump administration is pursuing deals with allied nations to extend its offensive to land across multiple Latin American countries.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a visit to Panama last month that Colombia, Guatemala and Honduras had agreed to allow the U.S. to carry out joint military operations against criminal groups on their soil.

Guatemala denied reaching such a deal. Ecuador launched similar missions with the US in March.

President Donald Trump has said the U.S. is in “armed conflict” with cartels in Latin America and has justified the attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States and fatal overdoses claiming American lives.

But his administration has offered little evidence to support its claims of killing smugglers. (AP)

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