US Southern Command said the strikes were conducted on Monday under the direction of Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and carried out by Joint Task Force Southern Spear.
According to the command, intelligence assessments showed that the vessels were travelling along established narco-trafficking routes in international waters and were involved in drug smuggling activities.Military officials said three people were killed on the first vessel, two on the second, and three on the third. Southern Command described those killed as male “narco-terrorists” and stated that the targeted boats were operated by groups designated by the US as terrorist organisations.
A video released by the command appeared to show one of the vessels being struck at sea.
US strikes under Operation Southern Spear have killed at least 95 people across 25 attacks since early September, according to US authorities. The Trump administration says it is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels, allowing the military to carry out lethal action without judicial review. Those killed have been labelled “unlawful combatants,” citing a classified Justice Department finding.
The campaign has drawn criticism from Democrats and legal experts, particularly over reports of follow-up strikes on damaged vessels, raising concerns about international law. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said lawmakers would receive classified briefings this week. The operations have also increased pressure on Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, whom the US accuses of benefiting from drug-smuggling networks.