American assets carried out a lethal strike on a vessel in international waters on 4 December under orders from U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Centcom said intelligence had confirmed the boat was carrying illicit narcotics along a recognised trafficking route in the Eastern Pacific. The strike destroyed the vessel and killed four men described as narco-terrorists. The Pentagon offered no additional evidence to corroborate the designation.
The action fits into a broader pattern that began in September 2025, when the United States started conducting airstrikes on small boats in the Caribbean as part of what the Trump administration called a maritime counter-narcotics mission. The following month, the strikes expanded into the Eastern Pacific. Washington has asserted that the targeted vessels were operated by groups it labels as terrorist organisations, including Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua and Colombia’s National Liberation Army, but it has not publicly substantiated those claims.
By 4 December at least eighty seven people had been killed across at least twenty two strikes on twenty three vessels. Critics argue that the pattern suggests something closer to a political coercion campaign than a counter-narcotics effort. Both the Colombian and Venezuelan governments accuse the United States of extrajudicial killings and violating international law. Human rights groups have raised similar concerns, and legal scholars point out that the administration has not demonstrated an armed conflict framework that would justify lethal force on the scale being used.
The programme is unfolding against a backdrop of deteriorating relations with Venezuela. Opposition figures, independent analysts and some administration sources have all suggested that the White House is pursuing regime change through pressure and attrition. Congress has twice attempted to rein in the president’s authority to continue the strikes but both resolutions were defeated in the Senate.
Despite the controversy, the Pentagon continues to frame the campaign in narrow terms. In its statement on the 4 December incident, the department said only that “the vessel was carrying illicit narcotics” and that four “narco-terrorists” were killed, offering no further justification for the use of force in international waters.
Like a frickin turkey shoot man!
Crazy that he’s bombing fishermen to distract from his fling with Bill.
Hardly fisherman…. Drug runners more like…
I doubt that very much.
‘The Pentagon offered no additional evidence to corroborate the designation.’
It’s just their word, and that’s meaningless these days.
we don’t know even, if it may be. but we also have reports of 4 fishermen from Trinidad being killed
in reality it is impossible to verify by aerial cam because we cannot ID these individuals nor prove if there are drugs onboard
this is nuts because being a drug a mule is not a capital offence in US,, they are entitled to due legal process as per US Constitution
killing civilians in international waters by military is a war crime regardless of how DC lawyers spin it – in fact a US Navy Admiral resigned in sept because he would not carry out these illegal orders
sorry but I wont take the word of US administration when we have had plenty of bold face lies in the past like WMD, the killing of italian journalist/hostage Giuliana Sgrena and italian operatives who had just rescued her, etc, etc…
all this could easily be avoided by US Coast Guard doing their regular patrols in US waters by boarding vessels, checking ID and cargo, and then make arrests when appropriate
this narco-terrorist campaign is another Trump sham
Agreed.
If you believe in the principle of law it’s irrational not to agree with you lool
Oh and no one should take America at their word alone.
Did you look at the picture? Which part of “fishing “ stood out to you?
Firstly, we have no proof that the image in the article is representative of the sinking.
Secondly, you can’t identify what those items on the deck in the image are.
Thirdly, we have reports of fishermen going missing from Trinidad whilst operating in this area.
Granted THAT picture might not be from THAT specific incident but the videos are pretty clear. They show and follow a pattern. These guys know what they are doing and know what they are doing more than likely be responsible for destroying a large number of lives, if not deaths. The hat due process for the victims? I don’t say give them carte Blanche but based on what we know Ima OK with it so far.
Nazi’s use to shoot men in the water and now America is doing the same.
Thank you for your service.
So how can the UK possibly remain allied with the Nazis? The UK, if it has any principles, should demand that all American forces withdraw from the UK and the UK must stop all intelligence relationships with the US. The UK can’t possibly remain in a NATO that has a Nazi USA as a member. NATO must be given an ultimatum: It can have the US or the UK as a member, not both. Go ahead, big mouth, we’re all waiting.
America is fast becoming a second russia
Western branch of the Kremlin. Run by a toddler tantrum.
With those 3 huge Engines strapped to the back, That’s some serious Fishing Boat ! 🚤😎
I bet they don’t catch many fish when they are doing 40 knots+
And without any fishing gear aboard…
Yeah, It’s like they’re on drugs or something 😂
I love the numerous bags of “fish” at the front of the high speed fishing boat.
I guess it’s in powered form to make it easier to transport.
The amazing thing with a hit from a 250lb guided bomb is the difficulty in finding anything that can be used for evidence.
Alleged “Bags of Fish” !
nice to see American due process at work in international waters. /facepalm
what’s next? taking down small airplanes, why not airliners (I am sure there must be some mule with drug packets in their stomach)
useless flexing when most of the drugs into US come from Mexico and Bahamas. Venezuela is hardly a major player in the cocaine business compared to Columbia, Bolivia and Peru, but Venezuela has something these countries don’t -> black gold.
Precisely.
It’s over 1000 nautical miles across an open ocean from Venezuela to Florida. Whatever those boats are doing it’s doubtful they’re doing trans – oceanic smuggling. Having twin outboard engines isn’t a crime.
Simultaneously pardoning the drug & arms trafficking ex Honduras president. This is like gunning down people in the stret on suspicion they’re drug dealers. Trump loves to play the hard guy when only faced with the weak.