Colombian woman says her husband’s life was wrongfully taken in US Strike

Alejandro Carranza, a fisherman from Colombia's Caribbean coast, was among 32 alleged drug traffickers killed in recent US military strikes. His family is disputing claims from the White House that he was involved in drug trafficking, asserting he left home solely to fish.

According to AFP, Carranza’s wife, Katerine Hernandez, described him as “a good man” and questioned the justification for his death, saying, “Why did they just take his life like that?” She emphasized that fishermen deserve to live and questioned why the authorities did not detain them instead.

Since the US began bombing boats in the Caribbean in September, critics have accused the Trump administration of executing extrajudicial killings. The White House and Pentagon have provided minimal evidence supporting their claims that the targeted individuals were engaged in drug trafficking.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who opposes US military actions in the region, stated that Carranza was innocent and that his boat experienced mechanical failure at sea. Petro noted that the vessel was adrift with a distress signal and claimed Carranza had no ties to drug trafficking.

However, Colombian media has reported that Carranza had a criminal record for theft in connection with gangs. Prosecutors contacted by AFP did not confirm or deny these reports.

The US government has released statements claiming strikes on at least seven boats carrying drugs, resulting in 32 deaths, but AFP has been unable to independently verify these figures.