URGENT UPDATE: The U.S. military has launched additional strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the death of 6 individuals. This latest operation, confirmed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, occurred on Sunday and marks a significant escalation in a campaign targeting narcotics smuggling.
These dual strikes bring the total number of attacks to 19 since September, with the death toll now reaching at least 75 people as the Trump administration intensifies efforts against drug cartels. Hegseth stated that the targeted vessels were identified by intelligence as being involved in illicit narcotics smuggling along a known trafficking route.
The urgency of this operation is underscored by the ongoing crisis in the United States related to drug-related violence and the opioid epidemic. Hegseth emphasized that the boats were carrying narcotics and were linked to foreign terror organizations, further complicating the geopolitical landscape in the region.
The strikes have raised questions among lawmakers, including some from the Republican Party, regarding the legal justification for these military actions. Despite calls for more transparency, the Trump administration has yet to provide substantial evidence for its claims about the targeted vessels.
In the wake of these attacks, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Hegseth met with bipartisan lawmakers to discuss the strategy behind the strikes, but Democrats have criticized these briefings as insufficient. A recent vote in the Senate rejected legislation aimed at limiting President Trump’s ability to engage in military actions against Venezuela without congressional approval.
The operation is part of a broader military buildup in South American waters, where the U.S. has deployed an aircraft carrier amid rising tensions with Venezuela. President Trump has framed these strikes as part of an “armed conflict” with drug cartels, asserting that they are flooding U.S. cities with narcotics.
In a dramatic display, Hegseth shared footage of one of the strikes, showing a boat exploding in a fireball. This kind of imagery serves to highlight the severity of the ongoing drug crisis and the lengths to which the U.S. is willing to go to combat it.
As developments unfold, the international community is watching closely, particularly given the implications for U.S.-Venezuela relations. The situation continues to evolve, and further actions are expected as the U.S. government ramps up pressure on drug trafficking organizations. Stay tuned for updates on this urgent and developing story.