U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reported on Wednesday that the American military conducted another operation targeting a vessel suspected of transporting drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of all four individuals on board. This action followed three similar strikes in the same area the day before, which resulted in the deaths of 14 individuals as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts against drug cartels in the South American waters.
Hegseth, who was on a trip to Japan and Malaysia, stated on social media that intelligence indicated the vessel was traveling through a known drug-trafficking route and carrying narcotics. The strike took place in international waters without any harm to U.S. forces, as shown in a video posted by Hegseth depicting the boat exploding in flames and smoke.
The U.S. has been conducting an extensive campaign in the region for almost two months, deploying a large fleet of warships with marines and aircraft, leading to speculation about potential actions against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whom the U.S. has accused of involvement in narcoterrorism. Concerns have been raised by experts regarding the legality of these strikes, which have resulted in the deaths of at least 61 individuals.
President Donald Trump has defended the boat attacks as crucial measures to combat drug trafficking into the United States, claiming that the U.S. is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels under legal authority similar to that used after the 9/11 attacks. However, the escalating number of strikes has triggered debates in Congress about the extent of the president’s authority, as they have occurred without legal investigations or a formal declaration of war, prompting questions about the evidence supporting these actions.
The Trump administration has not provided evidence to validate the connections between the attacked boats and drug cartels, or the identities of those killed in the strikes. Hegseth’s announcement of the latest strike marks the 14th operation conducted since the beginning of the campaign.