US military strike kills two in Caribbean, rights groups decry extrajudicial killings
The United States military announced on Sunday (June 21, 2026) that it carried out a strike on a vessel in the Caribbean Sea, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. The US Southern Command stated that the vessel was operated by what it described as “designated terrorist organisations,” though it did not name the groups.
According to the military, no US forces were harmed in the operation. Those killed were described as “male narco-terrorists” without further details. Six male survivors were reportedly rescued by the US Coast Guard following the strike.
The action was directed by General Francis L. Donovan, commander of US Southern Command, under the auspices of Joint Task Force Southern Spear. The military said intelligence confirmed the vessel was “transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.”
This strike is the latest in a series of operations under the Trump administration targeting suspected drug traffickers. Rights groups have condemned such actions as “extrajudicial killings,” arguing that they bypass legal due process. The administration has defended the strikes as necessary measures against “narco-terrorists.”
The use of military force against suspected drug vessels marks a significant shift from previous US policy, which typically involved law enforcement and judicial procedures. Critics argue that such operations risk civilian casualties and violate international law.
No independent confirmation of the military’s claims was immediately available. The US Southern Command did not provide evidence of the vessel’s alleged ties to terrorist organisations or its involvement in drug trafficking.
