U.S. Military Strikes Target Vessels in Pacific, Resulting in Six Deaths
the United States military conducted strikes against two vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of six individuals.Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth stated the vessels were targeted due to intelligence indicating their involvement in illicit narcotics smuggling and transit along a known narco-trafficking route. According to Hegseth, each vessel carried three male individuals, all of whom were killed in the strikes. No U.S. forces were harmed during the operations.
These strikes, carried out in international waters, represent the fourth such incident this month. Previous U.S. military actions in the Pacific and caribbean Sea have resulted in at least eight additional deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities from these operations to at least fourteen. To date, the U.S. has conducted 18 strikes on vessels.
The Trump management initiated these targeted attacks in the Caribbean in September,subsequently expanding the campaign to the Pacific Ocean. The administration has framed these actions as “counterterrorism” operations, following a designation of certain drug cartels as “terrorists.” Hegseth asserted the operations are aimed at “protecting the homeland and killing these cartel terrorists who wish to harm our country and its people.”
However, the strikes have drawn meaningful criticism, including concerns over their legality under both domestic and international law. United Nations rights chief Volker Turk recently condemned the attacks,stating they have “no justification under international law” and are “unacceptable,” calling for a halt to the extrajudicial killings.
The administration has not publicly released concrete evidence confirming the presence of narcotics on the targeted vessels, relying instead on intelligence assessments. the actions have also contributed to regional tensions, especially with Venezuela, with President Trump accusing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of connections to “narcoterrorists.” Speculation has arisen regarding potential U.S. preparations for conflict in Venezuela, though President Trump has suggested war is unlikely, while also stating Maduro’s time in power is limited.
