Three men have been killed in a US strike on an alleged drug-smuggling boat in the Caribbean, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has said.
It is the latest in a series of attacks on vessels the Trump administration claims are being used to smuggle drugs into the US.
Since they began in September, experts have questioned the legality of the strikes under international law, which have drawn strong criticism from Latin American leaders whose citizens have been targeted.
Combatting the flow of illegal drugs is a key policy for US President Donald Trump - but some have suggested the strikes may serve to influence politically opposed governments in the region.
Hegseth stated that the boat targeted on Saturday was operated by a designated terrorist organisation - though he did not specify which one - and was reportedly travelling in international waters when it was hit.
The vessel was described as navigating along a known drug-smuggling route and allegedly carrying narcotics, although evidence to support these claims was not provided.
Hegseth's statement was accompanied by a video appearing to show a blurred boat before an explosion.
The Trump administration has previously indicated that some boats targeted had departed from Venezuela.
According to reports from CBS News, at least 64 fatalities have been attributed to American airstrikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific since early September.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro described the attacks as murder, asserting that they are being used by the US to dominate Latin America.
In response, Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro accused Washington of fabricating a war. The two left-wing leaders have been in increasing conflict with the Trump administration.
Despite these criticisms, Hegseth stated that the US is targeting narco-terrorists as part of its strategy to combat drug trafficking.
Both Democrat and Republican lawmakers have claimed that the strikes require congressional approval, although Trump has denied this necessity.
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk condemned the strikes, declaring them a violation of international law and stating that they find no justification under such legal frameworks.
Moreover, there is widespread belief that the strikes are part of a broader strategy to exert influence over nations such as Colombia and Venezuela, both of which have been critical of US policies.
The US military has reportedly been increasing its presence in the Caribbean, suggesting that operations may be more expansive than previously disclosed.
