The U.S. military has conducted another strike in the Eastern Pacific, targeting alleged narco-terrorists, according to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday that the U.S. military has executed another strike in the Eastern Pacific aimed at alleged narco-terrorists involved in drug trafficking activities.
According to Hegseth, three suspected narco-terrorists were killed during the operation, which was ordered by President Donald Trump. He described the strike as “yet another lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO).” Hegseth emphasized that the deceased individuals were engaged in narco-trafficking in the Eastern Pacific.
“The vessel was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and was carrying narcotics,” Hegseth explained. He confirmed that the strike took place in international waters, with all three terrorists aboard the vessel killed and no U.S. forces harmed during the operation.
This incident marks the ninth vessel strike since September and the second reported in the Eastern Pacific. A total of 37 individuals have reportedly been killed in these operations, while two others survived and were subsequently repatriated to their home countries.
Hegseth stated, “These strikes will continue, day after day. These are not simply drug runners—these are narco-terrorists bringing death and destruction to our cities. These DTOs are the ‘Al Qaeda’ of our hemisphere and will not escape justice. We will find them and kill them, until the threat to the American people is extinguished.”
Despite the Pentagon’s assertions, officials have declined to release the identities of those killed or provide evidence of drugs being transported on board the targeted vessel.
The Trump administration has faced scrutiny in recent weeks regarding these military strikes, particularly from Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who has raised concerns about the implications of killing individuals without due process and the potential for innocent casualties. In a recent interview, Paul referenced Coast Guard statistics indicating that a significant percentage of boats boarded under suspicion of drug trafficking are, in fact, innocent.
Furthermore, the senator has argued that if the administration intends to engage in military action against Venezuela, as it has targeted boats allegedly linked to the Venezuela-associated Tren de Aragua gang, it must seek a formal declaration of war from Congress.
As the situation unfolds, the U.S. military’s approach to combating narco-trafficking continues to draw attention and debate regarding its legality and ethical implications.
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