In a significant escalation of its counternarcotics operations, the United States conducted a nighttime strike on an alleged drug vessel in Caribbean territorial waters, resulting in the deaths of six suspected ‘narco-terrorists.’ This marks the ninth such operation in recent weeks, with reports indicating that two Trinidadians were among those killed. The strike, announced by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on October 24, is part of a broader campaign initiated in September under President Donald Trump’s directive to combat drug trafficking in the region, particularly targeting Venezuela. The operation has seen the deployment of advanced US military assets, including guided-missile destroyers, F-35 fighter jets, a nuclear submarine, and thousands of troops. Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar has publicly supported the campaign, while CARICOM has reiterated its commitment to maintaining the Caribbean as a ‘Zone of Peace,’ emphasizing dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution. A brief video released by the US military shows the vessel being struck by a projectile, though no evidence of its cargo was provided. Meanwhile, the US Navy continues to expand its presence in the region, with a versatile warship scheduled to arrive in Port of Spain for joint training with Trinidad and Tobago’s Defense Force. The newly established Counternarcotics Task Force, led by the US Marine Corps, underscores the Trump administration’s intensified focus on combating criminal networks in Latin America and the Caribbean.