Story perspectives

Outcry Grows Over U.S. Military Strikes Killing 80

11/23/2025

Summary

Story summary

Lizbeth Perez searches for her uncle Alejandro Carranza after a United States military strike on a boat in September that killed over 80 people.
Critics, including Colombian President Gustavo Petro, say the strikes violate international law and amount to extrajudicial killings by the United States.
United States President Donald Trump’s administration defends the strikes as necessary for national security, asserting an armed conflict with drug cartels despite lacking congressional authorization.

History

Historical Context

Initiated in 2000, Plan Colombia was a U.S. military and diplomatic strategy aimed at combating drug trafficking and insurgency, involving over $10 billion in aid. While it aimed to reduce coca cultivation and support the Colombian military against FARC, the recent military strike that killed over 80 individuals raises concerns about extrajudicial killings, echoing criticisms of Plan Colombia's controversial tactics and their impact on U.S.-Colombia relations.

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Story summary

Lizbeth Perez searches for her uncle Alejandro Carranza after a United States military strike on a boat in September that killed over 80 people.
Critics, including Colombian President Gustavo Petro, say the strikes violate international law and amount to extrajudicial killings by the United States.
United States President Donald Trump’s administration defends the strikes as necessary for national security, asserting an armed conflict with drug cartels despite lacking congressional authorization.

1 / 2