U.S. Military Reports Accused Drug Smugglers Leaped Overboard in Maritime Operation

— According to a U.S. military announcement, after a primary assault on one vessel, occupants of two other boats leaped into the sea on the following day.

The U.S. Southern Command revealed on Wednesday that a day prior, three 'drug-trafficking ships moving as a group' experienced strikes in 'international waters.' This led to three fatalities on the initial boat struck, raising the death toll from ongoing military operations targeting suspected drug traffickers to at least 110, as per Southern Command.

The statement from Southern Command stated, 'The remaining individuals involved in narco-trafficking deserted the other two ships, jumping into the ocean and distancing themselves prior to subsequent engagements that resulted in the destruction of their vessels.' The U.S. Coast Guard has been engaged for search and rescue missions.

Separately, the Coast Guard briefed about receiving alerts on Tuesday regarding 'seafarers in distress within the Pacific region.'

The Coast Guard also noted, 'Coordination of search and rescue activities with area vessels is ongoing, and a Coast Guard C-130 aircraft is headed to the locale to expand search efforts, capable of deploying a survival dinghy and other necessary supplies.'

As reported by three U.S. officials to CBS News, around eight individuals abandoned the remaining two boats, with one stating that the attacks took place in the eastern Pacific.

Footage from the strikes did not clearly visually confirm any survivors in the water.

Handling of survivors by the Trump administration has stirred controversy, with accusations aimed at potential violations of war laws following a secondary strike on September 2 that resulted in two deaths among the survivors. Two individuals who survived a Caribbean attack on October 16 faced detention by the U.S. Navy and were sent back to their home countries, raising suspicions about the representation of the threat posed by alleged drug traffickers according to Trump's administration. A separate attack in the Pacific on October 27 left a sole survivor, now presumed deceased.

Congressional Concerns

A number of lawmakers, primarily from the Democratic party, have expressed concerns, coinciding with the sharper stance taken by Trump against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Accusations include drug-related offenses and affiliations with groups labeled terrorist organizations by the U.S., which Maduro contests.

Worries about potential conflict escalation with Venezuela have surfaced since these operations were not sanctioned by Congress. There are questions whether the actions are legally justified.

President Trump has frequently issued statements about potential land strikes on Venezuela, recently citing that the U.S. 'disabled' a 'significant facility' connected to alleged drug operations last week, yet comprehensive information regarding this claim remains scant.

Trump reported from Florida, 'A substantial detonation occurred at a port known for drug-loading activities.'

Numerous Republicans uphold the operations, even after the administration acknowledged the death of two survivors from the follow-up attack on September 2.

Demands for public release of the September 2 strike footage persist from both critics and proponents, though Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has declared no current intentions from the Pentagon to disclose it.