A U.S. military strike on a vessel in Caribbean waters has sparked alarm in St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines after reports that fishermen may have been killed in the attack.
U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said the strike took place on Feb. 13 under the direction of its commander, Gen. Francis L. Donovan. In a statement posted on Facebook, SOUTHCOM said Joint Task Force Southern Spear carried out “a lethal kinetic strike” on a vessel it described as being operated by designated terrorist organizations along known narcotics trafficking routes. It said three “narco-terrorists” were killed and no U.S. personnel were harmed.
The explosion was reported around 2 p.m. several miles off Canouan. Fishermen there said they saw and heard the blast.
However, reports from St. Lucia indicate the men aboard may have been fishermen. Three St. Lucian nationals who left port earlier in the week have not returned, according to local sources.
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre said the government is seeking clarification.
“Let me assure the nation: the Government of St. Lucia is actively engaging through established diplomatic and security channels to verify the facts,” Pierre said in a statement.
At his weekly pre-Cabinet briefing, Pierre confirmed that lives were lost but said authorities had not received official details on the identities or circumstances.
“I can confirm that people lost their lives,” he said. “But I got no official notification on anything else. The issue is being investigated by the powers responsible for investigations.”
The government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has not issued a public statement.
Photographs published Saturday by the St. Vincent Times showed the charred remains of a vessel off Canouan, with part of the bow visible above water. No bodies were reported at the scene.
The incident has raised questions in the region about the vessel’s location, the identities of those on board and the legal basis for the strike.
U.S. officials have said at least 36 vessels have been targeted in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific since September, resulting in more than 120 deaths. The administration says the operations are aimed at disrupting drug trafficking bound for the United States.
Pierre urged the public to avoid speculation as investigations continue.
“In matters affecting national security and regional stability, speculation has no place,” he said. “Our approach is disciplined, fact-based, and guided by the singular priority of protecting the people and interests of St. Lucia.”
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This should drive both fear and anger in the minds of all the fishermen especially in this region. This is so wrong on every level. Where is the evidence that they were transporting drugs? How can the US continue to get away with these atrocities unchallenged. Caricom continues to be silent.
These Amare some crazed lunatics. Their day of judgement will come. Just be patient
These Americans
Kmt so the Caribbean doesn’t have no fkn power trump has the power over everything how fucked up is this
This man days is coming soon trust me an the world will rejoice wen he’s gone who gonna defend these fisher man now why can’t they chase the army out of the Caribbean
Dem manz mina ah buy jugz…I know local fishermen who would go on transport missions once the price is right…..Y’all really think the US didn’t have enough detail on the vessel before the strike?? Really?? Tap chaffic jugz! Chump nar play wid ar u!!!
Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this laaaaaaaaand!!!! God Bless the U.S.A!!….Ahhhhh MQ-9 Reaper Drone loaded with laser giuded Hellfire Missiles…Those guys don’t stand a chance….
Let us stop pretending this is anything other than what it is: a display of unchecked power imposed on a region that lacks the military might to answer back.
The United States made a calculated decision to fire missiles into Caribbean waters, take lives, and then shield itself behind vague claims of “terrorism” and “security.” That is not transparency. That is not justice. That is power exercised without fear of consequence.
When a superpower kills first and promises evidence later, it demands blind trust. But trust is earned through accountability — not enforced through dominance. If those killed were criminals, prove it. Release the intelligence. Allow independent international scrutiny. Anything less suggests that the narrative is being controlled to avoid responsibility.
And the hypocrisy must be called out clearly: Why does this aggressive “authority” never extend into the waters of Russia, China, or North Korea? Why are similar unilateral strikes not carried out there? Because those states can retaliate with force. The pattern is undeniable — strength is flexed where retaliation is unlikely. That is not courage. It is selective aggression.
Caribbean lives are not expendable. Our sovereignty is not conditional. Our waters are not a proving ground for military dominance. No nation — no matter how powerful — has the moral right to operate above international law.
If CARICOM, the Commonwealth, and the United Nations fail to demand a transparent, independent investigation, then they risk reinforcing the perception that global rules apply differently depending on a country’s size and power. Silence in moments like this does not preserve diplomacy — it erodes credibility.
The world cannot continue to tolerate a system where the powerful define the threat, carry out the execution, and close the case themselves.
Accountability is not anti-American. It is pro-justice.
And justice demands answers.
I still cannot understand as to why the US is surveilling our waters. Are we not capable of doing it ourselves?
Similar to how Bishop’s life in Grenada was taken without a just cause, it seems to be happening with other innocent lives. Enough is enough. Our heads of govt need to speak with one voice & let the Americans know, enough is enough! Are we going allow our voice be heard only when it reaches home?
There is a saying
“First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Caricom needs to pay attention and take note to what the United States is doing. They are the biggest threat to regional security. Antigua and Barbuda also need to rethink this idea of ” FRIENDS OF ALL AND ENEMY OF NONE”…You cannot maintain friendship with someone who is attacking another friend because your turn will surely come.
Yet we continue to import goods from the USA and give them preferential treatment over locally produced products. It is time for the Caribbean people to bond together, in unity and support each other.
The US has enough sophisticated-equipment , weapons, helicopters, drones to bring any drug trafficker to shore alive and let them face the law. We have completely lost our independence. Now Colonies of the super powers.
I personally believe that these were genuine fishermen. Again if they were drug traffickers arrest them and let them face the full force of the law .
No way in any true democracy, that the rights of people are ignored as what is being done by the USA today. It is not recorded anywhere in history, the abuse of power shown by the USA as these killings of what I assume to be innocent fishermen.
Right now there is no such thing as Caribbean leaders, or Caricom . These guys cannot even speak out against these atrocities that are committed within their borders, against what could be innocent fishermen. Yet this Prime Minister of St.Lucia is warning this people about being speculative. Instead of him calling a spade a spade. Take a stand and tear up your passport with the US visa in it. I am waiting on one so call Caribbean politician and preferably Prime Minister to take such a bold stand.
They will eventually pay the price. That usually happens when a new administration takes over the government.
Facial expressions of Pierre: the USA has ask me to tell you all to avoid speculation, succinctly asking not to call up America’s name in the murder which will create the perception of genocide committed against the Caribbean people by the world greatest democracy.
Now let us the people think outside the box that J.pierre and other prime minister in the Caribbean who are infantilized and too scared.
What if the entire Caribbean join the fight against drugs? We are totally against drugs and would use our military resources to do so without discrimination, motor boats and yachts coming in to our shores with drugs should be blown up, or using the desensitizing word kinetics strike as the media is pushing direct public perception that it is something benign.
So Caribbean drug enforcement agencies should strike these boats own by any international or Caribbean owners regardless of race or color. And shall not tip toe around such commitment to rid this hemisphere of drugs.
There is nothing really I have to say about this that I haven’t been saying for months when it was happening to South Americans and Trinidadians other than instead of waiting until devine diversion or a new American administration make noise about it, annoy your politicians or representatives with power this should be a CARICOM discussion.
Who knows how long this happen and what island will be affected, and if you don’t have fisherman family or is a fisherman if it happens in close waters it still would cause people to fear going out to see causing shortages fish or certain type of fish affecting the little food independence we got.
Curious….which direction was the boat heading when it was BOMBED and the fishermen MURDERED???
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