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Colombia's president calls US attacks on alleged drug boats 'act of tyranny'

September 25, 2025

The US has conducted airstrikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean Sea, reportedly killing 17 people since operations began this month. Colombia's President Gustavo Petro condemned these strikes in a BBC interview, calling them an "act of tyranny" and arguing that traditional maritime seizures never required lethal force. President Trump has defended the operations as necessary to combat drug trafficking into the US, while legal experts, UN officials, and Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about potential human rights violations.

Who is affected

  • Individuals on the targeted boats (reportedly 17 killed)
  • Colombians potentially killed in the attacks
  • Drug trafficking organizations including alleged members of Tren de Aragua
  • Citizens of the US who are impacted by drug trafficking
  • People in Colombia, Venezuela and other Latin American countries experiencing US military operations
  • The Cartel of the Suns group allegedly headed by Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro

What action is being taken

  • The US is conducting airstrikes on boats suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea
  • The US military is bolstering its forces in the southern Caribbean with additional naval vessels and thousands of Marines and sailors
  • Democratic lawmakers in Washington are demanding answers from the White House about the legality of the strikes
  • UN experts are describing the strikes as extrajudicial executions
  • President Petro is publicly criticizing the US operations and calling for investigations

Why it matters

  • The airstrikes represent a significant escalation in US anti-drug trafficking tactics
  • The operations may violate international human rights laws and principles of proportional force
  • The strikes are creating diplomatic tensions between the US and Latin American countries
  • The situation highlights disagreements about appropriate methods to combat drug trafficking
  • The conflict occurs amid broader changes in US policy toward Latin America under Trump, including tougher trade policies and major deportation efforts

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC