The U.S. military has intensified its campaign against narco-terrorism at sea, launching its 15th strike aimed at disrupting drug trafficking operations in the Caribbean.
The U.S. military has executed its 15th maritime strike targeting narco-terror groups in the Caribbean, as War Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasizes the government’s commitment to combating drug cartels. The latest operation resulted in the deaths of three suspected smugglers, according to Hegseth, who stated that the strike was carried out “at the direction of President Trump.”
In a post on X, Hegseth detailed the operation, describing it as a “lethal kinetic strike” against a vessel linked to a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO). He noted that the targeted vessel was known to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling and was traversing a recognized narco-trafficking route while carrying narcotics.
“These narco-terrorists are bringing drugs to our shores to poison Americans at home — and they will not succeed,” Hegseth declared. He pledged that the U.S. military would pursue these groups with the same determination it applied in its fight against Al Qaeda: “We will continue to track them, map them, hunt them, and kill them.”
This recent announcement highlights the ongoing maritime offensive against transnational cartels, which has seen at least 64 individuals killed in operations since September, according to defense officials familiar with the campaign. Hegseth has characterized these efforts as a vital response to the evolving threat posed by drug cartels, which he argues have transformed into transnational terror organizations.
President Trump has defended these military strikes as a necessary measure to disrupt the flow of drugs into the United States, framing the situation as an “armed conflict” with these cartels. This perspective aligns with the legal authority invoked following the September 11, 2001, attacks, which allows for military action against perceived threats.
Despite the administration’s strong stance, there has been increasing pressure from lawmakers for greater transparency regarding the legal justifications for these operations. On Friday, Senate Democrats renewed their calls for clarity, sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Hegseth. The letter requested the administration disclose its legal rationale and the list of entities deemed targetable under the president’s directive.
The letter, signed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and several senior Democrats, including Senators Jack Reed and Jeanne Shaheen, accused the administration of selectively releasing conflicting information to certain lawmakers while withholding details from others.
In a related development, the bipartisan leadership of the Senate Armed Services Committee has released two previously undisclosed letters sent to Hegseth in late September and early October. These letters urged the Pentagon to clarify its legal framework for the strikes and to identify which cartels have been formally designated as terrorist organizations.
As the U.S. military continues its campaign against narco-terrorism, the implications of these operations raise significant questions about the balance between national security and transparency in government actions.
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