President Donald Trump announced a military strike that resulted in the deaths of three individuals identified as “narcoterrorists.” In a post shared on Truth Social on March 15, 2024, Trump stated that he instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to target a vessel navigating a “known narcotrafficking passage” in the Caribbean Sea. This operation marks the third such action taken by the Trump administration in less than a month, following two previous strikes earlier in March that killed a total of 14 individuals.
In his post, Trump emphasized that the attack was necessary to combat drug trafficking that threatens American lives. He wrote, “On my Orders, the Secretary of War ordered a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization conducting narcotrafficking in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility.” According to Trump, intelligence confirmed that the targeted vessel was transporting illicit narcotics en route to the United States, with the strike occurring in international waters.
The president highlighted that no U.S. forces were harmed during this operation, and he concluded his statement with a forceful message: “STOP SELLING FENTANYL, NARCOTICS, AND ILLEGAL DRUGS IN AMERICA, AND COMMITTING VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM AGAINST AMERICANS!!!” Accompanying the post was a video purportedly showing the strike, although its authenticity remains unverified amid previous allegations regarding AI-generated content.
While the administration has asserted its justification for these strikes, details regarding the identities of the deceased and the precise nature of the intelligence used to confirm narcotics on board were not disclosed. The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for further clarification on these matters.
When questioned about evidence for the previous strike earlier in the week, Trump claimed, “We have proof. All you have to do is look at the cargo that was spattered all over the ocean, big bags of cocaine and fentanyl all over the place.”
Legal experts have raised concerns regarding the legality of these operations. Hegseth stated that the U.S. possesses “absolute and complete authority” to conduct such strikes, framing them as necessary for national defense. However, internal discussions reportedly revealed that military lawyers cautioned the administration about potential legal ramifications. Retired Lt Col. Rachel E. VanLandingham expressed her worries on CNN, stating, “The lack of transparency by the administration when they’re using lethal force in the American people’s name, in a very unique manner, is deeply troubling.”
The legality of targeting civilian vessels without clear evidence of self-defense has also been challenged. Democratic Senator Jack Reed, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, emphasized, “There is no evidence—none—that this strike was conducted in self-defense.” He noted that both domestic and international law restricts the military’s ability to use lethal force against civilian targets unless there is imminent danger.
In a contrasting perspective, Vice President JD Vance dismissed the criticism during a rally in Michigan, claiming not to care about the backlash. He jokingly mentioned a conversation with Hegseth, noting that there had been no new drug boats entering U.S. waters, implying that the strikes were effective deterrents.
As the administration faces scrutiny over its military actions, the implications of these strikes continue to unfold, raising critical questions about legality, transparency, and the broader impact on U.S. foreign policy regarding drug trafficking.
