US Military Strikes Alleged Drug Boat in Caribbean, Killing 3

The latest attack raises the death toll from the Trump administration's strikes on alleged drug boats to 133 people in at least 38 attacks.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The U.S. military 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 on alleged drug boats by the Trump administration since early September, which have resulted in at least 133 deaths across 38 attacks in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.

Why it matters

The Trump administration has justified these attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs, but has provided little evidence to support claims of killing "narcoterrorists." The high death toll and lack of transparency around these operations have raised concerns about the legality and efficacy of the military's actions.

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 13, 2026.
  • The Trump administration has carried out at least 38 attacks on alleged drug boats since early September.

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 details to back up this claim.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who 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.

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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 and lack of transparency around these military operations against alleged drug boats have raised significant concerns about the legality and effectiveness of the Trump administration's approach to combating drug trafficking in the region.