Four killed in latest US attack on alleged drug-smuggling boat in Caribbean 

The United States has conducted its 47th attack on an alleged drug-trafficking vessel, this time killing four people.

Wednesday’s announcement brings the total number of people killed in the boat-bombing campaign, dubbed Operation Southern Spear, to approximately 163.

US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), which oversees military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, described the attack as “applying total systemic friction on the cartels”.

“On March 25, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations,” the command unit wrote on social media.

“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.”

No further details were provided to identify which “terrorist organisation” was involved, or who was on board the vessel.

As has been its custom, Southern Command attached a brief, 15-second aerial video of the attack alongside its statement, showing a narrow boat bursting into flames.

The administration of President Donald Trump has repeatedly argued that lethal tactics are necessary to stop drug trafficking into the US.

Legal experts and human rights officials, however, have criticised the attacks on multiple fronts, describing them as a campaign of extrajudicial killing.

The boat-bombing campaign began in the Caribbean Sea on September 2 and expanded to the eastern Pacific Ocean in October.