In what appeared to be an extension of a US military operation off the shores of South America, the United States said Sunday that it had launched another hit against what it described as a drug-running boat, this time targeting an alleged leftist rebel vessel from Colombia.
As President Donald Trump announced that the United States is stopping financial help to Colombia and will impose tariffs on it on Monday, Pentagon head Pete Hegseth revealed the attack.
Since August, US warships have been stationed in the Caribbean off Venezuela, attacking at least six vessels it claimed were smuggling drugs into the country, killing at least 27 people in the process.
In a strike carried out Friday, three crew members were killed when US forces attacked a vessel affiliated with Colombia’s National Liberation Army, or ELN, Hegseth said.
Hegseth said the vessel was traveling in international waters in an area under the purview of the US Southern Command, which oversees US military operations in Latin America. He did not specify where. Colombia has both Caribbean and Pacific coasts.
Trump meanwhile confirmed that the United States would be announcing tariffs on Colombia on Monday, after the information was tweeted by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.
“He (Trump) informed me that he is going to be hitting Colombia, not only their drug dealers and traders, but also where it hurts, in the wallet. He will be announcing major Tariffs against the Country of Colombia,” Graham’s post said.
