U.S. forces have successfully carried out a strike on a vessel believed to be involved in drug trafficking in the Pacific Ocean, the Pentagon confirmed. This operation is part of a broader effort to combat illicit activities at sea.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that two individuals on board the boat were killed during the strike, while no U.S. service members sustained any injuries. The vessel was identified by U.S. intelligence as operating along a known drug trafficking route in international waters.
This incident marks the eighth U.S. strike against suspected drug-carrying vessels since early September, and notably, it is the first to occur in the Pacific. Previously, these operations have primarily taken place in the Caribbean.
Visuals of the operation appear to show a long, blue speedboat encountering a forceful impact. Secretary Hegseth emphasized the administration’s commitment to disrupting drug trafficking networks, stating, “Narco-terrorists intending to bring poison to our shores will find no safe harbor anywhere in our hemisphere.” He drew parallels between the cartels’ operations and terrorist organizations, asserting, “Just as Al Qaeda wages war on our homeland, these cartels are waging war on our border and our people.” Hegseth concluded with a firm message: “There will be no refuge or forgiveness – only justice.”
The strike occurs amidst heightened tensions between the U.S. administration and Colombia, with President Trump recently criticizing Colombian President Gustavo Petro, calling him an “illegal drug leader” and announcing the cessation of U.S. subsidies to Colombia.
Both Colombia and Ecuador, neighboring nations with Pacific coastlines, are recognized as critical transit points for narcotics heading north towards the United States. U.S. drug enforcement agencies estimate that the majority of cocaine destined for the U.S. travels via the Pacific route.
Details regarding the identities of those killed in the strikes and their alleged affiliations with drug trafficking organizations have been limited, with U.S. officials providing few specifics to date.
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