Why it matters:
This represents a case of direct presidential authorization for lethal force in a non-combat setting, potentially setting a precedent for future U.S. military involvement in law enforcement operations. The attack raises growing concerns about transparency, accountability, and the legal limits of U.S. military actions in international waters.
The big picture:
Since early September 2025, the U.S. military, under direct orders from Donald Trump, has launched at least 14 lethal strikes on small boats allegedly suspected of drug trafficking in both the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in over 60 deaths.
Critics, including members of Congress from both parties, have raised serious legal and ethical concerns about the use of lethal force without judicial oversight or clear evidence of imminent threat.
Key points:
- War Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. military killed three men aboard a boat in the Caribbean.
- The strike was conducted in international waters and directly ordered by Trump.
- No American forces were injured in the operation.
- Hegseth shared a video on social platform X, claiming it shows the moment of impact.
Neda Sajjadi - M.a.Mahmoudi
