US Strikes on Drug Boats Kill 14, Spark International Outrage

US forces have killed 14 people in strikes on four alleged drug boats in the Pacific, ordered by President Donald Trump. One survivor was rescued by Mexican authorities. The US says the boats were carrying narcotics, but the attacks — part of a wider anti-drug campaign — have sparked regional and international backlash. Critics, including Colombia and Venezuela, say the strikes violate international law. At least 57 people have been killed so far, heightening tensions between the US and South American governments.

US forces have killed 14 people in strikes on four alleged drug boats in the Pacific Ocean, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced. He said that one survivor had been rescued by Mexican search and rescue personnel following the attack.

The latest strikes, which took place in the eastern Pacific on Monday, were carried out at the direction of President Donald Trump and mark a significant escalation in what the US describes as its campaign to target drug traffickers. The US says the vessels were traveling along known drug-trafficking routes and carrying narcotics.

According to Hegseth, eight suspected “narco-terrorists” were killed in the first strike, while four and three people were killed in the following two strikes. The fourth strike also destroyed a vessel, and one person was rescued by Mexican authorities, though their condition and current whereabouts remain unclear.

Hegseth posted footage on X showing several vessels engulfed in flames after being hit by US munitions. “The department has spent over two decades defending other homelands,” he wrote. “Now, we’re defending our own.” He added that at least four of the US strikes have occurred in the Pacific, a major drug-trafficking corridor, while others have taken place in the Caribbean.

The attacks have drawn widespread criticism and concern. Regional leaders and legal experts have questioned the legality of the strikes, saying they may violate international law. Members of the US Congress from both parties have also expressed alarm and questioned President Trump’s authority to order such actions without congressional approval.

At least 57 people have now been killed in the US anti-drug strikes, increasing tensions between Washington and the governments of Colombia and Venezuela. Most of the earlier strikes occurred off the coast of South America in the Caribbean, but the recent Pacific attacks suggest an expansion of US operations.

President Trump has defended his actions, claiming he has the legal authority to strike drug boats in international waters. However, he has said he might seek congressional approval if the campaign is expanded to include land-based targets. Trump stated he is “totally prepared” to carry out such strikes if necessary.

International reaction to the strikes has been sharply divided. Colombia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Mauricio Jaramillo, condemned the actions as “disproportionate and outside international law,” saying those aboard the vessels “had no possibility to defend themselves” and were targeted without due process or judicial oversight.

Tensions with Colombia and Venezuela have intensified further. The US recently imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, accusing him of failing to control drug trafficking and allowing cartels to thrive. In the Caribbean, Washington has deployed troops, aircraft, and naval vessels — including the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest warship — to strengthen its presence in the region.

President Trump has also accused Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro of heading a drug-trafficking network, an allegation Maduro has denied. Venezuelan officials fear the growing US military presence may be part of an effort to remove Maduro from power. Venezuela’s attorney general told the BBC that there is “no doubt” the US intends to overthrow the Venezuelan government and seize the country’s vast natural resources, including its gold, oil, and copper reserves.

The United States, along with several other countries, does not recognize Nicolas Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate leader. The last election in 2024 was widely condemned as fraudulent, with independent opposition tallies showing that Maduro’s opponent had won by a landslide.

The US-led strikes, mounting regional tensions, and accusations of unlawful military actions have all contributed to growing unease in Latin America, raising fears of further escalation between Washington and its southern neighbors.