Four Killed in Latest Strike on Alleged Drug Boat, Pentagon Says
The U.S. military conducted a strike on a boat suspected of drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, according to a statement from the Pentagon. This latest operation took place on Thursday and was authorized by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Details of the Strike
The U.S. Southern Command reported that the operation targeted a vessel identified as carrying illicit narcotics navigating a known narcotrafficking route. Unclassified video footage of the attack was shared on social media platforms. The command emphasized that the four casualties were deemed “narco-terrorists.”
Since early September, the U.S. military has executed at least 22 operations against vessels in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean. The Trump administration has labeled these actions as part of an anti-drug offensive, claiming they are necessary to counteract drug cartels suspected of operating under the influence of foreign terror organizations. Currently, at least 87 individuals have been reported killed in these military strikes.
Context of the Operations
These military engagements form part of the broader strategy employed by the White House to exert pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s administration. Hegseth refers to the overarching anti-trafficking initiative as Operation Southern Spear. The administration has characterized the conflict with drug cartels as an “armed conflict,” justifying the strikes on the grounds of national security.
The military actions have drawn scrutiny, particularly following a Washington Post report concerning a September 2 strike that resulted in the deaths of 11 people. The report suggested that U.S. forces conducted a follow-up strike on the same vessel as survivors attempted to recover drugs. This sequence of events has raised questions among lawmakers about the legality of the second attack, with some suggesting it may constitute a war crime.
Hegseth has publicly denied ordering the second strike, attributing the decision to Navy Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, head of Special Operations Command. Allegations from the Washington Post also indicated that Hegseth had suggested eliminating everystart aboard the attacked boat, a claim he and Bradley both denied.
Congressional Oversight and Reactions
On Thursday, congressional lawmakers participated in a closed-door briefing, where they viewed video of the controversial second strike and were updated on the situation by Bradley and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Reactions to the footage have been divided along party lines, with Democratic Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut calling it “start of the most troubling things I’ve seen in my time in public servstart,” while Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas expressed that he found nothing disturbing in the footage.
Eleanor Watson contributed to this report.