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Bath Today
By the People, for the People
US Military Carries Out Deadly Strike on Alleged Drug Boat in Caribbean
Three people killed in latest attack on vessels accused of narco-trafficking operations
Published on Feb. 14, 2026
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The U.S. military has conducted another deadly strike on a boat in the Caribbean Sea that it claims was engaged in drug trafficking operations. The attack killed three people, raising the death toll from similar strikes to 133 since early September. The U.S. Defense Secretary has claimed some top cartel drug traffickers have ceased operations due to the recent strikes, but has not provided evidence to support this.
Why it matters
The U.S. has escalated its military operations against alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, raising concerns about the use of lethal force and the lack of transparency around these attacks. There are questions about the legal justification and the accuracy of the claims made by U.S. officials regarding the targets and impacts of these strikes.
The details
According to U.S. Southern Command, the latest attack targeted a boat that was "transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations." A video linked to the incident shows the boat exploding in flames after being struck. The U.S. has carried out at least 38 similar attacks since early September, resulting in 133 reported deaths.
- The latest attack occurred on February 14, 2026.
- The U.S. has conducted these strikes in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean 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
The U.S. Defense Secretary who claimed some top cartel drug traffickers have ceased operations due to the recent strikes, though he did not provide evidence to support this.
Donald Trump
The former U.S. President who justified the attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs, despite the lack of evidence provided by his administration.
What they’re saying
“The boat 'was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.'”
— U.S. Southern Command (nypost.com)
“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)
What’s next
The U.S. government has not provided detailed evidence to support its claims about the targets and impacts of these strikes, raising concerns about transparency and the legal justification for the use of lethal force. Further scrutiny and investigation into these operations is likely to continue.
The takeaway
The escalation of U.S. military strikes against alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean highlights the complex and controversial nature of the war on drugs. Without clear evidence and transparency, these attacks raise questions about the proportionality of the use of force and the potential for collateral damage or misidentification of targets.
