The U.S. military conducted strikes against three vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean, which were accused of drug smuggling, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals. This military action has drawn increasing scrutiny from members of Congress, as it escalates tensions surrounding U.S. foreign policy regarding drug trafficking.
In an official statement on social media, the military highlighted that the strikes targeted "designated terrorist organizations," leading to the deaths of three individuals in the first boat, two in the second, and three in the third. However, the military did not provide evidence to substantiate the claims of drug trafficking associated with these boats. Accompanying the statement, a video was released showing a boat moving through the water prior to its explosion.
President Donald Trump has defended these military strikes as a necessary measure to combat the influx of drugs into the United States. He described the situation as an "armed conflict" with drug cartels and emphasized the importance of the strikes in addressing this issue. Despite these assertions, the Trump administration faces mounting criticism from lawmakers regarding their campaign, which has reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 95 people across 25 strikes since early September. This includes a controversial follow-up strike that killed two survivors who were clinging to the wreckage of one of the attacked boats.
The recent military operations coincided with upcoming briefings for all members of Congress, where questions regarding the administration's military campaign are expected to be addressed. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other key national security officials, are scheduled to provide closed-door briefings for lawmakers in both the House and Senate.
This military campaign has intensified pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who has been indicted on charges of narcoterrorism by the U.S. Recently, U.S. forces seized a sanctioned oil tanker that the Trump administration accused of illicit crude smuggling. Maduro, in response, has accused the U.S. of using military operations as a means to orchestrate his ousting from power.
The U.S. military has established its most substantial presence in the region in decades, launching a series of lethal strikes on vessels suspected of drug smuggling in both the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. President Trump has indicated that land attacks are forthcoming, although details regarding their location have yet to be disclosed.
