Fewer than 3 in 10 Americans (29%) support using the U.S. military to kill suspected drug traffickers, according to a new poll.
The survey, conducted by Reuters, noted that more than half of respondents (51%) rejected such actions, while the rest were unsure where they stood.
At the partisan level, a little over a quarter of Republicans (27%) opposed the move, with 58% supporting it. In contrast, three quarters of Democrats opposed it, and just one in 10 supported them.
The Trump administration, however, seems intent to continue its operations. On Thursday Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Operation Southern Spear, which is aimed at targeting "narco-terrorists" and defend "our homeland from the drugs that are killing our people."
"The Western Hemisphere is America's neighborhood - and we will protect it," Hegseth added.
The publication has led to speculation about whether the administration will further escalate its actions in the region or is just putting a name to the operation, which has carried out at least 20 strikes against alleged drug vessels, killing at least 80 people.
Moreover, President Donald Trump was presented with an updated list of targets to strike Venezuela if he were to give the order, according to a new report.
CBS News detailed that senior military officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Dan Caine, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presented Trump with the options, which include strikes on land. No final decision has been made, the outlet noted.
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