Former US President Donald Trump has declared that the country is in an "armed conflict" with Latin American cartels, as a US military campaign has reportedly killed at least 180 people since last year, according to AFP. In the latest incident, a US strike on a suspected drug-trafficking boat in the Caribbean on Sunday resulted in the deaths of three men, highlighting the ongoing and controversial nature of these operations.

The US Southern Command stated in a post on X that it "conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations," killing "male narco-terrorists." A video of the strike showed an explosion on a small boat traveling in open waters, with US forces reportedly suffering no casualties, as per the command's announcement.

The Trump administration claims it is combating so-called "narco-terrorists" in Latin America and has carried out repeated strikes on suspected smuggling vessels since September. During this period, the US has built up its largest military presence in the region in generations, raising concerns about sovereignty and international law implications.

However, critics have questioned the legality of these operations, pointing out that the Trump administration has offered little evidence to support its assertions of targeting "narco-terrorists." While the campaign is purportedly aimed at curbing the flow of drugs across US borders, its effectiveness and legal foundations remain under debate, underscoring the broader geopolitical tensions and societal costs associated with such military actions.

Source: www.dw.com