Experts Question U.S. Military Boat Strikes Amid Limited Intelligence

Unlike traditional counterterrorism operations, which relied on detailed intelligence to target high-level figures, these maritime strikes focus on vessels suspected of transporting drugs without knowing exactly who is aboard. Critics argue that this approach could harm low-level participants, fishermen, or migrants, rather than cartel leaders.

“Traditionally, counternarcotics efforts have targeted the head of the snake,” said Representative Jim Himes (D-Conn.), top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. “Now we’re going after the tail, some poor ex-fishermen who took a small payment to move cocaine.”

Experts note that dismantling a trafficking network requires capturing individuals and interrogating them to identify financiers and leaders. By destroying the boats, the U.S. may be erasing critical intelligence and evidence, undermining long-term efforts to combat organized crime.

Former U.S. diplomat Annie Pforzheimer, who specialized in counternarcotics, explained, “If you wanted to stop the drug trade effectively, capturing people to learn the network is far more effective than sinking boats at sea.”

Lawmakers also caution that the strikes could produce blowback, as seen in past counterterrorism campaigns. Families of those killed may become radicalized or hostile toward the U.S., compounding future security risks.

Supporters of the operation argue that modern surveillance technology—including drones and satellites—reduces the risk of collateral damage at sea compared with land-based targets. Officials have also pointed out that signature strikes under previous administrations targeted suspects based on behavior patterns rather than confirmed identities.

Nevertheless, Democratic lawmakers stress the moral and strategic risks of these maritime operations. Each strike carries the potential of harming innocents, which could fuel resentment and undermine U.S. objectives in the region.

As the campaign continues, debates over intelligence, accountability, and the ethics of military intervention at sea are expected to intensify.