Khaberni - The United States executed a new strike in the Caribbean Sea on a boat suspected of transporting drug smugglers, resulting in the killing of four men, according to the American military.
The US military command for Latin America and the Caribbean region stated that "the boat was sailing on known drug smuggling routes in the Caribbean Sea and was involved in drug trafficking operations," adding, "no American armed forces personnel were injured" in the operation.
The United States began targeting boats suspected of drug trafficking in early September, and so far, the campaign has resulted in more than 163 deaths.
The administration of President Donald Trump states that it is in an actual war with what it calls "drug terrorists" active in Latin America. However, it has not provided any conclusive evidence that the targeted ships are involved in drug trafficking, sparking controversy over the legitimacy of these operations.
International law experts and human rights organizations say that these strikes are likely extrajudicial killings, as they appear to have targeted civilians who do not pose a direct threat to the United States.
Washington deployed a significant force in the Caribbean region where its forces have, in recent months, raided boats suspected of smuggling drugs, seized oil tankers, and carried out an operation in the Venezuelan capital during which the leftist President Nicolas Maduro was arrested.
