83 killed in US boat strikes: a chronological timeline

The United States military has killed 83 individuals in a sequence of strikes that destroyed 22 boats, part of a campaign aimed at reducing the flow of drugs into the country. Three people survived the attacks; two were briefly held by the US Navy before being repatriated, while the third is presumed dead following a search by the Mexican Navy.

The Trump administration has classified the operations as part of an armed conflict against drug cartels, beginning with the first strike on September 2. Those killed have been labeled unlawful combatants, allowing the administration to authorize lethal strikes without judicial oversight based on a classified Justice Department ruling. This approach has drawn criticism from some members of Congress and human rights organizations, who argue that suspected traffickers should face conventional prosecution.

The administration has not publicly provided evidence linking the targeted boats to narcotics or cartel activity. Military officials reported no US casualties in the operations.

The initial strike in the Caribbean disabled a vessel and caused fatalities, but survivors prompted a follow-up strike that killed all remaining crew members, bringing the total deaths on that ship to 11. Concerns have been raised about the legality of double-tap strikes, which target survivors already incapacitated.

Subsequent strikes in international waters killed additional suspected traffickers. In one case, the US military killed three people on a vessel allegedly transporting drugs from Venezuela. Tensions with Venezuela increased, with officials describing the attacks as undeclared war and serial executions.

The campaign expanded with multiple strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific, targeting vessels allegedly associated with designated terrorist organizations involved in narcotics trafficking. Survivors from some strikes were repatriated to countries including Ecuador and Colombia, where they underwent medical evaluations and legal review. In one instance, a survivor repatriated to Colombia had previously been convicted of drug smuggling.

The Pentagon confirmed that as of November, at least 21 strikes had been carried out against suspected drug trafficking vessels, resulting in multiple deaths. All strikes reportedly occurred in international waters, and no US military personnel were harmed. Officials have emphasized that the vessels were traveling along known narcotics transit routes.

US officials described the targeted cartels as violent organizations threatening national security and public health, likening them to terrorist groups. The operations have sparked disputes with regional governments, including Colombia and Venezuela, over the legality and humanitarian impact of the strikes.

The campaign, publicly communicated via social media posts by President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, highlights the administrations aggressive approach to combating drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere.

Author: Sophia Brooks