The U.S. Has Killed 227 Civilians in Boat Strikes During “A Year of Murders”
“The boat strikes are, perhaps, the most stark testament to the lawlessness of the Trump administration.” The post The U.S. Has Killed 227 Civilians in Boat Strikes During “A Year of Murders” appeared first on The Intercept .
In September 2025, the U.S. military conducted a series of strikes on so-called "drug boats" in the Caribbean Sea, resulting in the deaths of over 200 civilians. Adm. Frank Bradley, then head of the Joint Special Operations Command, ordered SEAL Team 6 operators to attack a speedboat carrying 11 men. The attack, carried out in the early morning hours, saw two missiles kill all survivors and sink the boat.
This single strike marked the beginning of a year-long campaign of attacks, according to a defense official who described it as "a year of murders" and a "criminal" normalization of violence. The U.S. military justified the attacks by citing narcotics on the boats as lawful military targets, claiming they generate revenue for drug cartels engaged in a "non-international armed conflict" with the United States.
However, experts in the laws of war and members of Congress from both parties contend that the strikes are illegal extrajudicial killings, violating the fundamental rights to life and due process. A classified opinion from the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel supports the U.S. position, but critics argue the memo is "flimsy yet expansive" and condones murder.
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