--- title: "Navy holding two survivors of latest US airstrike in the Caribbean" description: "The pair were recovered and are allegedly being kept on a Navy warship. They're the first to survive the half dozen US strikes." date: "2025-10-17" modified: "2025-10-17" authors: - name: "Nicholas Slayton" job_title: "Contributing Editor" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/nicholas-slayton/" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/navy-holding-survivors-caribbean-sixth-strike/" categories: - "Americas" - "Around the World" - "Military Branches" - "Navy" - "News" --- # Navy holding two survivors of latest US airstrike in the Caribbean ![U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (March 31, 2025) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) displays its battle flag in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (Official U.S. Navy photo)]() *The USS Jason Dunham in March 2025. U.S. Navy photo.* The U.S. Navy is holding two survivors from a sixth airstrike on an alleged drug trafficking boat, multiple outlets report. The airstrike on Thursday targeted an apparently semi-submersible vessel that was partially underwater when it was hit, according to [Reuters](), which first reported on both the airstrike and the survivors. Two survivors were recovered by a U.S. military helicopter while at least one other person onboard died, according to Reuters and the [Associated Press](). The two survivors are being kept on a Navy ship, the outlets report. The new attack came two days after the fifth airstrike in the sea killed six people. The attack on Thursday would bring the death toll since September from American attacks to at least 28. The Trump administration has repeatedly called the people killed drug traffickers and “narco-terrorists,” following the designation of drug cartels as terrorist organizations. It is not immediately clear how that would impact how any survivors would be held if in American custody. Task & Purpose reached out to the Pentagon, SOUTHCOM and the Navy regarding both the strike and under what conditions the survivors are being held, but has not heard back as of press time. The White House and Department of Defense have accused the ships of moving narcotics from Venezuela, although no evidence has been put forward. The Guardian [reported]() that two people killed in previous strikes were from Trinidad and Tobago. The Trump administration had previously told Congress it considers the United States to be in an “armed conflict” with cartels. In August, the United States began moving several warships, a Marine expeditionary force and fighter jets into the Caribbean in the name of counter-drug trafficking operations. American forces began airstrikes on boats in September, even as Navy and Coast Guard ships continued regular interdictions. Last week SOUTHCOM [organized]() a joint task force to oversee counter-narcotics efforts. ## Author Nicholas Slayton is a contributing editor for Task & Purpose, covering conflict for over 12 years, from the Arab Spring to the war in Ukraine. His previous reporting can be found on the non-profit Aslan Media, The Atlantic, Al Jazeera, The New Republic, The American Prospect, Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, and the Los Angeles Downtown News. You can reach him at nicholas@taskandpurpose.com or find him on Twitter @NSlayton and Bluesky at @nslayton.bsky.social. ### Author social links [Twitter]()