U.S. Military Executes Eighth Strike on Alleged Drug Trafficking Vessel
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday that the U.S. military conducted its eighth strike against a suspected drug trafficking vessel, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. This operation took place on Tuesday night in the eastern Pacific Ocean, diverging from the seven previous strikes, which all occurred in the Caribbean.
Hegseth shared in a social media post that the latest strike increased the total number of fatalities from these operations to at least 34. A short video shared by Hegseth depicted a small boat carrying brown packages moving through the water, eventually exploding and burning on the water’s surface.
In a controversial statement, Hegseth compared the alleged drug traffickers to the perpetrators of the September 11, 2001, attacks, stating, “Just as Al Qaeda waged war on our homeland, these cartels are waging war on our border and our people.” He further emphasized, “there will be no refuge or forgiveness — only justice.”
President Donald Trump has defended these military actions by claiming the United States is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels. The administration is utilizing the same legal rationale employed during President George W. Bush’s tenure following the 9/11 attacks.
Despite the aggressive stance, the Trump administration has avoided prosecuting those aboard the targeted vessels. In one instance, two survivors of an earlier strike were returned to their home countries of Ecuador and Colombia without facing legal proceedings in the United States.
After one man was sent back to Ecuador, Ecuadorian officials stated that they released him, citing a lack of evidence of any crimes committed within their jurisdiction.
