WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military said Friday that it has carried out another deadly strike on a vessel accused of trafficking drugs in the Caribbean Sea.
U.S. Southern Command said on social media that the boat “was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.” It said the strike killed three people. A video linked to the post shows a boat moving through the water before exploding in flames.
Friday’s attack raises the death toll from the Trump administration’s strikes on alleged drug boats to 133 people in at least 38 attacks carried out since early September in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared last week that “some top cartel drug-traffickers” in the region “have decided to cease all narcotics operations INDEFINITELY due to recent (highly effective) kinetic strikes in the Caribbean.” However, Hegseth did not provide any details or information to back up this claim, made in a post on his personal account on social media.
President Donald Trump has said the U.S. is in “armed conflict” with cartels in Latin America and has justified the attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs. But his administration has offered little evidence to support its claims of killing “narcoterrorists.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at the Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Whittle)
Former Los Angeles Angels infielder Luis Rengifo has agreed to terms on a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, according to a person familiar with the situation.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been announced. Rengifo’s contract also includes a $10 million mutual option for 2027.
MLB.com first reported that Rengifo was joining the Brewers.
Rengifo, who turns 29 on Feb. 26, had spent his entire seven-year major league career with the Angels.
He batted .238 with a .287 on-base percentage, with nine homers, 43 RBIs and 10 steals last season while producing career highs in games played (147) and at-bats (541). That followed a 2024 season in which he batted .300 with a .347 on-base percentage, six homers, 30 RBIs and 24 steals in 78 games.
Rengifo becomes a candidate to take over at third base following the Monday trade of Caleb Durbin to Boston in a six-player deal that also sent infielders Andruw Monasterio and Anthony Seigler to the Red Sox. The Brewers acquired left-handed pitchers Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan as well as infielder David Hamilton in that trade.
The versatile Rengifo has played 409 games at second base, 199 at third, 97 at shortstop and 51 in the outfield during his career. Last season, Rengifo played 76 games at third base and 74 at second while also making occasional appearances in the outfield.
Milwaukee lacked a proven third basemen after Monday’s trade.
Joey Ortiz was Milwaukee's starting third baseman in 2024 but moved over to shortstop last season. Hamilton played one game at third base last year but primarily has worked at second base and shortstop.
Jett Williams, one of the players Milwaukee acquired in a Jan. 21 trade that sent two-time All-Star pitcher Freddy Peralta to the New York Mets, is expected to get some reps at third base during spring training. Williams has played second base, shortstop and the outfield in the Mets organization.
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FILE - Los Angeles Angels' Luis Rengifo (2) smiles as he walks toward the dugout after the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong,File)
