The U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, revealed on Wednesday that the American military conducted another operation targeting a vessel believed to be transporting narcotics in the eastern Pacific Ocean. This strike resulted in the deaths of all four individuals on board. The 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, currently on a trip to Japan and Malaysia, shared on social media that intelligence indicated the vessel was navigating a known drug trafficking route and carrying illicit substances. The strike was carried out in international waters with no reported harm to U.S. personnel. A video shared by Hegseth captured the moment the boat exploded in flames and smoke.
The Trump administration has been active in the region for nearly two months, deploying a significant naval force with marines and aircraft. This build-up has raised speculations about potential motives against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whom the U.S. has accused of involvement in drug-related terrorism. Concerns have been raised by experts regarding the legality of these strikes, which have resulted in the deaths of at least 61 individuals.
President Trump has defended the attacks on these vessels as necessary measures to curb the influx of drugs into the United States. He has argued that the U.S. is engaged in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels under legal authority similar to that used during the post-9/11 anti-terrorism initiatives. However, increasing concerns have surfaced in Congress over the scope of the president’s authority, with some lawmakers questioning the lack of concrete evidence and absence of a formal declaration of war to justify the lethal operations.
The Trump administration has not provided substantive evidence supporting the targeted vessels’ alleged connections to drug cartels or the identities of those killed in the strikes. The recent operation announced by Hegseth marks the 14th since the campaign commenced.