Hegseth: Two more suspected drug boats hit in the Eastern Pacific, six dead

U.S. Forces Target Drug Traffickers in the Pacific

On Monday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that U.S. military forces had engaged two drug-trafficking vessels in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the death of six individuals described as “narco-terrorists.”

The attacks occurred on Sunday while the ships, operated by organizations identified as terrorist entities, were in international waters. However, Hegseth did not specify which particular group was involved.

He noted that the vessels were transporting drugs along well-known trafficking routes in the eastern Pacific.

According to Hegseth, each ship had three alleged “narco-terrorists” aboard, and thankfully, no U.S. personnel were harmed during the operation.

“Under President Trump, we are defending our homeland and eliminating cartel terrorists who pose a threat to our nation and its citizens,” Hegseth mentioned in a post on platform X.

The Pentagon chief shared brief video clips of the strikes, which showed the ships being hit and subsequently engulfed in flames.

Since the operation commenced in early September, the U.S. military has carried out at least 19 airstrikes against suspected drug-smuggling vessels in both the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, resulting in at least 76 fatalities.

This aggressive action has prompted criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans, with lawmakers seeking further details about the ongoing mission.

The administration has conducted at least 13 briefings related to the operation, including a classified Senate briefing led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Hegseth later this week. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer indicated that the session did not fully address all concerns raised by Democratic members. Meanwhile, Rep. Jim Hymes (D-Conn.), who is the leading Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, noted that while general information was provided on how targets are selected, many questions about the “exact structure” remained unanswered.

As the military actions persisted, tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela heightened. The Venezuelan regime responded by mobilizing warships, fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft, and a contingent of Marines to enhance their military presence in the U.S. Southern Command area.

President Trump and his officials have labeled Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro an “illegitimate leader,” with Trump recently implying in a CBS “60 Minutes” interview that Maduro’s time in power might be running out.