U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday that the American military conducted another operation targeting a vessel suspected of carrying drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the death of all four individuals on board. This action followed three previous strikes in the same area on Monday, which Hegseth reported resulted in the deaths of 14 individuals as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts against drug cartels in South American waters.
Hegseth, who has been on a trip to Japan and Malaysia, shared on social media that intelligence indicated the vessel was traveling along a known route for drug trafficking and transporting narcotics. The strike took place in international waters without any harm to U.S. forces. A video posted by Hegseth captured the moment the boat exploded in flames and smoke.
The U.S. administration has been executing an extensive campaign in the region for nearly two months, deploying a significant number of warships with marines and aircraft. This military buildup has sparked speculation that the operations may be targeting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whom the U.S. has accused of involvement in narcoterrorism.
The legality of these strikes, which have resulted in the deaths of at least 61 individuals, has been questioned by experts. President Donald Trump has defended the attacks as necessary to curb drug flows into the U.S., citing the nation’s engagement in an “armed conflict” against drug cartels under legal authority similar to that used by the Bush administration following the events of September 11, 2001.
Although Trump has justified the strikes, debate in Congress has intensified over the extent of the president’s authority. Some lawmakers, including members of the Republican party, have raised concerns about the lack of concrete evidence supporting the killings, as these operations have been carried out without formal investigations or declarations of war by Congress.
The latest strike reported by Hegseth marks the 14th operation since the campaign’s inception.
