The US military has executed three targeted strikes on four vessels in the eastern Pacific, reportedly used for narcotics trafficking, resulting in 14 fatalities and one survivor. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the operations, stating they were conducted under President Trump’s directive. The vessels, operated by groups labeled as Designated Terrorist Organizations (DTOs), were intercepted along known drug trafficking routes. Intelligence indicated the boats were carrying narcotics. The strikes occurred in international waters, with no US personnel harmed. US Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) initiated search-and-rescue protocols for the survivor, with Mexican authorities coordinating the rescue. Hegseth emphasized the strikes as part of a broader campaign against drug trafficking networks, equating these groups to terrorist organizations like al-Qaida. He vowed to track, network, and eliminate such threats. The operations mark a significant escalation in US military action against transnational criminal groups, raising legal and ethical questions about the use of lethal force outside declared war zones. Concerns have also emerged regarding regional implications, particularly with Mexico’s involvement in the rescue. Pentagon publications and social media have shared visuals of the strikes, reinforcing claims of the vessels’ ties to DTOs. The administration asserts these intelligence-driven operations aim to disrupt organizations linked to rising narcotics-related deaths in the US. Reactions from other governments and international bodies remain pending, with analysts awaiting further details and independent verification.
US carries out strikes on four vessels in Eastern Pacific, killing 14
