PACIFIC OCEAN – A recent US military operation in the eastern Pacific Ocean has resulted in the deaths of six individuals, according to the Department of War. The incident involved two airstrikes targeting vessels suspected of involvement in narcotics trafficking. The strikes have reignited a heated debate surrounding the legality and justification of the US’s ongoing campaign against drug smuggling in international waters.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated that the targeted vessels were engaged in transporting narcotics along a known trafficking route and were operated by groups designated as terrorist organizations. He released a video purportedly showing the moment of the strikes. However, the identities of the deceased have not been released, nor has definitive evidence been presented to substantiate the claims of direct involvement in narcotics smuggling or an imminent threat to the United States.
“Yesterday, at the direction of President Trump, two lethal kinetic strikes were conducted on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations,” Hegseth posted on social media. “These vessels were known by our intelligence to be associated with illicit narcotics smuggling, were carrying narcotics…”
These strikes occur amidst escalating US military activity in both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The deployment of a nuclear submarine and warships has drawn criticism, particularly from Caracas, which accuses Washington of using the fight against drugs as a pretext for regime change in Venezuela. The US has significantly increased its military presence in the Caribbean in recent months, including the deployment of a nuclear submarine and a carrier strike group.
The US operations in the region have triggered international condemnation. The United Nations has called for an investigation into the legality of the strikes, citing credible reports of extrajudicial killings. Fifty-eight nations from Latin America and the European Union have voiced their opposition to the use of force in a recent summit, further highlighting the growing international concern over US policy in the region.
