U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday that the American military conducted another operation targeting a vessel allegedly transporting drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of all four individuals aboard. This action followed three similar strikes reported by Hegseth the day before in the same area, resulting in the deaths of 14 individuals, as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts against drug cartels in South American waters.
Hegseth, who was on a trip to Japan and Malaysia, revealed through a social media post that intelligence indicated the vessel was moving along a known route for narcotics trafficking and was carrying illicit substances. He confirmed that the operation took place in international waters without any harm to U.S. personnel.
A video shared by Hegseth depicts the boat engulfed in flames and smoke. The Trump administration has been conducting an extensive campaign in the region for nearly two months, deploying a significant naval presence with marines and aircraft, leading to speculation about potential intentions to remove Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, accused by the U.S. of involvement in narcoterrorism.
Questions have arisen regarding the legality of these strikes, which have resulted in the deaths of at least 61 individuals. President Donald Trump has defended the attacks as necessary measures to combat drug trafficking into the U.S., citing an “armed conflict” with drug cartels supported by legal authority similar to the one used by the Bush administration after the 9/11 attacks.
However, the growing number of strikes has sparked a debate in Congress about the extent of the president’s authority. These attacks have occurred without legal investigations or formal declarations of war, prompting concerns from lawmakers, including members of Trump’s own party, regarding the lack of concrete evidence justifying the lethal operations.
The Trump administration has not presented any evidence to substantiate its claims regarding the targeted boats, their alleged ties to drug cartels, or the identities of those killed in the strikes. The recent strike announced by Hegseth marks the 14th operation since the commencement of the campaign.
