US Military Strikes Alleged Drug Boat in Caribbean, Killing 3

The attack is the latest in a series of deadly strikes on vessels accused of drug trafficking in the region.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The U.S. military has carried out another deadly strike on a vessel accused of drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea, killing three people. This latest attack is part of a series of strikes the Trump administration has launched against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific since early September.

Why it matters

The U.S. government has claimed these strikes are necessary to stem the flow of drugs, but has provided little evidence to support its assertions that the targets are 'narcoterrorists.' The high death toll from these attacks has raised concerns about the use of military force against suspected drug traffickers.

The details

According to U.S. Southern Command, the boat 'was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.' A video linked to the post shows the boat moving through the water before exploding in flames.

  • The latest strike occurred on February 14, 2026.
  • Since early September, the Trump administration has carried out at least 38 attacks on alleged drug boats, killing a total of 133 people.

The players

U.S. Southern Command

The unified combatant command of the United States Armed Forces responsible for military operations in Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.

Pete Hegseth

U.S. Defense Secretary who claimed that some top cartel drug-traffickers have decided to cease all narcotics operations indefinitely due to the recent strikes, though he provided no evidence to support this claim.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who justified the attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs, though his administration has offered little evidence to support its claims of killing 'narcoterrorists.'

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What they’re saying

“Some top cartel drug-traffickers in the region have decided to cease all narcotics operations INDEFINITELY due to recent (highly effective) kinetic strikes in the Caribbean.”

— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary (Pete Hegseth's personal social media account)

The takeaway

The high death toll from these U.S. military strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean has raised concerns about the use of force against suspected drug traffickers, with questions remaining about the evidence supporting the government's claims and the long-term effectiveness of this approach in combating the drug trade.