The U.S. military conducted its ninth operation against a suspected drug-carrying vessel, resulting in three fatalities in the eastern Pacific Ocean, as confirmed by U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s social media update. This action followed a previous strike on Tuesday night in the same region that resulted in the deaths of two individuals, according to Hegseth. These recent incidents mark a shift from previous strikes in the Caribbean, bringing the total death toll from these operations, initiated last month, to at least 37.
These strikes signify an extension of the U.S. military’s operational scope to target areas off the coast of South America, a region where a significant amount of cocaine from major producers is illicitly transported. Hegseth drew parallels on social media between the ongoing crackdown on drug trafficking and the post-9/11 war on terrorism declared by the U.S. government.
U.S. President Donald Trump has defended these operations by asserting that the U.S. is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels, labeling them as unlawful combatants. He hinted at the possibility of future land-based strikes against these criminal organizations. Lawmakers from both political parties have raised concerns about the lack of congressional authorization and transparency regarding these military actions.
During a press briefing, Trump emphasized the readiness to take decisive action against drug-related threats on land and expressed intentions to seek approval from Congress for such operations. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio supported the strikes, emphasizing that halting drug trafficking activities would prevent further confrontations at sea.