US airstrike kills three in Caribbean anti-drug operation

On Friday, February 13, 2026, the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) conducted an airstrike against a speedboat in the Caribbean suspected of drug trafficking. The strike resulted in the deaths of three individuals on board, marking the fourth such incident reported since the start of the year. This operation is part of a broader military campaign initiated in September 2025, which has seen 39 vessels destroyed and at least 133 fatalities to date. While the Trump administration asserts these strikes target drug cartels, critics and legal experts have questioned the legality of the operations due to a lack of presented evidence. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has categorized these actions as extrajudicial executions. Within Washington, the campaign has sparked significant political debate between government officials and the opposition. This maritime campaign follows the reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife by U.S. forces in Caracas on January 3, 2026. The escalation of force in the region remains a point of international legal contention.