U.S. Military Strikes Kill 14 in Eastern Pacific, Targeting Alleged Drug Traffickers
October 28, 2025 – The U.S. War Department confirmed today that three “lethal kinetic attacks” against four vessels in the Eastern pacific resulted in the deaths of 14 individuals. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated the operations, conducted Tuesday following instructions from president Donald Trump, targeted boats operated by designated terrorist organizations (DTOs) involved in narcotics trafficking.
According to Hegseth’s statement, relayed via the Pentagon’s X account, the first attack involved a vessel carrying eight individuals, the second four, and the third three.”A total of 14 narcoterrorists were killed during the three attacks, with one survivor,” Hegseth reported.
All attacks occurred in international waters, with no U.S. personnel injured. The U.S. Southern Command (Southcom) immediately initiated rescue protocols for the lone survivor, with Mexican search and rescue authorities later taking obligation for coordinating the operation.
Hegseth further asserted that “narcoterrorists have killed more americans than Al-Qaeda” and will be treated accordingly.
This incident marks the eleventh reported strike by the Trump Administration against vessels suspected of drug trafficking, beginning in the caribbean and expanding to the Pacific. These operations have resulted in nearly sixty deaths. U.S. intelligence officials stated they had been tracking the four vessels due to their known routes and involvement in narcotics transport. The attacks took place in international waters off the coast of Colombia.
The actions are likely to further strain relations with venezuela and Colombia, both of which have been accused by President Trump of facilitating drug trafficking. The U.S. recently bolstered its military presence in the region, including the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford to the Caribbean.
