U.S. military authorities confirmed on Monday that the death toll from strikes on suspected drug smuggling vessels under the Trump administration has reached a total of 126, including those missing.

The U.S. Southern Command stated that this figure includes 116 individuals who died instantly in at least 36 attacks in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific since early September.

Search teams have been unable to locate 10 people following the bombings, who are presumed dead.

The U.S. military reported that eight people jumped from a vessel when three ships suspected of drug trafficking were attacked on December 30.

That number was not previously disclosed, but military officials stated at the time of the air strike announcement that the U.S. Coast Guard was conducting a search for survivors.

The remaining two individuals were aboard boats attacked on October 27 and last Friday, respectively, and are also presumed dead.

President Donald Trump has justified these attacks as necessary to stop drug trafficking, stating that the U.S. is in a "violent conflict" with Latin American drug cartels.

While the Associated Press reported that the Trump administration has provided little evidence to support its claims of killing "drug terrorists," secrecy surrounding military operations has often been common in the past.

These boat attacks come amid a significant buildup of U.S. military presence in Latin America not seen in decades, part of a pressure campaign that culminated in the arrest of Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro.

Maduro was extradited to the United States on drug trafficking charges following a raid by U.S. forces on January 3.

Since then, there has been one more air strike on a vessel, and the U.S. has focused more on intercepting tankers associated with Venezuela. This is seen as a way to increase pressure on Venezuela by cutting off its oil exports, while also allowing the U.S. to gain control of Venezuela's oil, thereby increasing its leverage over China.

Democratic lawmakers introduced a resolution to limit the president's military operation authority to prevent increased military pressure on Venezuela, but Republicans have blocked the resolution in both the House and Senate, thereby maintaining President Trump's authority as commander-in-chief.

By Sung Ku Hong, Editor-in-Chief, NNP=USA / Special Correspondent NNP info@newsandpost.com