U.S. Conducts 20th Strike On Alleged Drug Boat In Caribbean, Killing Four

The United States carried out its 20th strike on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean earlier this week, killing all four people on board, a Defence Department official confirmed on Thursday.

The latest attack brings the total number of deaths in the administration’s maritime strike campaign to 80 since early September.

According to the official, the strike took place on Monday and left “no survivors”. Officials in the Trump administration have admitted they often do not know the identities of individuals on these boats before the strikes are ordered.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had earlier confirmed two other strikes carried out on Sunday, marking the 18th and 19th operations, that targeted two separate vessels, each carrying three people. He said on social media the next day that all six individuals had been killed.

According to a New York Times report, Pentagon officials were waiting for video of the 20th strike before Hegseth announced it publicly.

Yesterday, at the direction of President Trump, two lethal kinetic strikes were conducted on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.

These vessels were known by our intelligence to be associated with illicit narcotics smuggling, were carrying narcotics, and… pic.twitter.com/ocUoGzwwDO

— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) November 10, 2025

US President Donald Trump had authorised the military to take direct action against suspected drug-carrying boats believed to be headed toward the United States.

The campaign, reported by CNN, relies on fighter jets, drones and gunships to strike vessels in both the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean as part of efforts to curb the flow of drugs into the country.

The Justice Department has informed Congress that the administration does not require its approval to carry out these maritime strikes. However, some legal experts warn that the operations could raise issues under US and international law.

Per reports, the United Kingdom has reportedly stopped providing intelligence on suspected drug-trafficking vessels to avoid being linked to the strikes, which British officials believe may be unlawful. Similarly, the President of Colombia has said he has ordered a halt to intelligence sharing with the US until the attacks come to an end.

The 20th strike came a day after the USS Gerald R. Ford, the US Navy’s largest and one of its most advanced aircraft carriers, arrived in the Caribbean following its deployment in Europe.

References: CNN, Indian Express

Source: Maritime Shipping News