US Military Expands Anti-Drug Campaign to Land Operations After 200 Deaths in 60 Boat Strikes
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Aug 17
US Military Expands Anti-Drug Campaign to Land Operations After 200 Deaths in 60 Boat Strikes
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Aug 17
Summary
Colombia, Honduras and Ecuador are being lined up for joint U.S. ground operations against criminal groups, opening a new phase after more than 200 people were killed in over 60 U.S. boat strikes.
Pete Hegseth said the land campaign would deliver the “same effect” as maritime strikes, while raising the prospect of U.S. participation in attacks on groups such as Colombia’s ELN.
Guatemala complicated that push by denying it had approved joint operations, saying such a deal would require congressional authorization; Mexico has also resisted any U.S. military role on its soil.
Trump’s administration has paired the expansion with a broader interventionist turn since January 2025, designating 20 Latin American criminal groups as foreign terrorist organizations and deepening direct U.S. action in the region.
Critics say sustained U.S. combat missions risk civilian casualties, sovereignty backlash and only temporary security gains as armed groups disperse into towns and civilian areas.
Will turning Latin America’s drug war into a land-based counterterror campaign weaken cartels—or drive them deeper into civilian communities?
After more than 200 deaths at sea, what safeguards can prevent mistaken targets and civilian harm as anti-drug strikes move onto land?
How far can governments let U.S. forces operate on their soil before sovereignty, legality, and public trust begin to break down?
Operation Southern Spear: The Human, Legal, and Geopolitical Fallout of Over 220 U.S. Military Killings in Latin America’s New Drug War
Overview
Operation Southern Spear began in September 2025 with U.S. maritime airstrikes that killed over 220 people and destroyed dozens of vessels, but failed to reduce cocaine supply as criminal groups quickly adapted. The campaign escalated onto land in 2026, with joint U.S.-Ecuador raids and a dramatic strike in Venezuela that killed a major cartel leader after the removal of President Maduro. These actions triggered lawsuits from victims’ families, international human rights complaints, and a surge of anti-U.S. protests across Latin America. Meanwhile, abuses by partner forces and lack of accountability raised serious legal and human rights concerns, deepening regional instability.