U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed on Wednesday that the American military conducted an operation targeting a vessel transporting drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of all four individuals on board. This action followed three similar strikes carried out the day before in the same area, resulting in the deaths of 14 individuals, as part of the Trump administration’s efforts against drug cartels in South American waters.
Hegseth, who was on a trip to Japan and Malaysia, shared on social media that intelligence indicated the boat was traveling along a known drug trafficking route and was carrying narcotics. The strike took place in international waters without any harm to U.S. forces, with a video posted by Hegseth showing the boat exploding in flames and smoke.
The Trump administration has been executing an extensive campaign in the region for nearly two months, deploying a significant naval force with marines and aircraft. This move has raised speculation that the operations are aimed at removing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whom the U.S. has accused of involvement in narcoterrorism.
The legality of the strikes, resulting in at least 61 fatalities, has been questioned by experts. President Donald Trump has defended the attacks as necessary to combat drug trafficking into the U.S., asserting that the country is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels under legal authority similar to that used post-9/11.
As the number of strikes increases, a debate in Congress has intensified over the extent of the president’s powers. Some lawmakers, including Republicans, have raised concerns about the lack of concrete evidence and legal investigation preceding the attacks, as well as the absence of a formal declaration of war from Congress.
President Trump has provided no substantiated evidence supporting the links between the targeted boats, drug cartels, or the identities of those killed in the operations. The recent strike reported by Hegseth marks the 14th since the campaign’s commencement.
