A U.S. strike on a Caribbean boat on Sunday killed three people, pushing the campaign’s death toll to at least 180. Gen. Francis L. Donovan of the Marine Corps ordered the attack, citing intelligence that the vessel was on a known narco‑trafficking route.

The Southern Command, headquartered near Miami, released a 12‑second clip of the boat detonating. Legal experts label the strikes extrajudicial killings because civilians without an imminent threat cannot be targeted, even if suspected of drug smuggling.

The boat’s destruction marks the 52nd strike since the campaign began in September, reflecting a tightening of U.S. maritime enforcement. Critics argue the Trump administration failed to provide evidence of drug smuggling, raising questions about accountability and international law.

These actions could strain U.S. diplomatic ties in Latin America and invite scrutiny from human‑rights watchdogs, potentially impacting foreign‑policy budgets and defense spending allocations.