The Trump administration carried out a sixth drone strike targeting a suspected drug-smuggling submersible in the Caribbean, killing at least one individual and capturing two survivors. The U.S. military reported that both survivors were taken into custody after being rescued by an American warship following the strike, which marks the first known case of survivors since the campaign began.
President Trump confirmed the attack, asserting that it targeted a submarine specifically designed for the transportation of drugs. He described the operation as part of a broader campaign to dismantle transnational cartels, with the death toll from these strikes now totaling at least 28. The strike occurred during the administration’s ongoing effort to combat drug trafficking, which has seen a steady rise in lethal operations against suspected smuggling vessels.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged the capture of survivors but stated that detailed information would be released at a later date. The attack is part of a larger strategy to disrupt drug flows into the United States, with a new Joint Task Force within U.S. Southern Command recently announced by War Secretary Pete Hegseth. He emphasized the need to ‘crush the cartels, stop the poison, and keep America safe,’ highlighting the Trump administration’s aggressive stance on drug trafficking.
In addition to the latest strike, the administration has also conducted operations in other regions, including a recent strike off the coast of Venezuela that killed six suspected smugglers. Trump condemned Venezuela for facilitating drug trafficking into the United States, further demonstrating the administration’s emphasis on combating drug-related crime through military intervention.
The strike underscores the Trump administration’s commitment to addressing the drug crisis through force, with a focus on targeting the infrastructure and networks of transnational cartels. The outcomes of this operation, including the fate of the captured survivors, will likely be closely monitored as the administration continues its campaign against drug trafficking.