The U.S. military conducted a new operation targeting a boat suspected of drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific. It was announced that four people were killed in the attack, which took place in international waters. Thus, another operation has been added to the intensified counter-narcotics operations the U.S. has been conducting in recent months.
According to information provided by U.S. Southern Command, the targeted boat was linked to an organization classified as a terrorist group by Washington. However, the military did not specify which organization it was referring to. Military sources reported that the boat was carrying illegal drugs and was navigating on a long-used smuggling route in the region.
Following the operation, the U.S. military shared a 21-second video showing the moments the boat was hit and turned into a fireball within seconds.
The attack occurred on the same day as closed-door briefings given to Congress by U.S. Navy Special Operations Commander Admiral Frank Bradley. Bradley provided details to lawmakers about the controversial operation in the Caribbean on September 2nd, which resulted in 11 deaths. The Admiral denied allegations that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order before the operation to “kill everyone on the boat.”
Members of Congress are demanding more transparency from the administration regarding both the September 2nd operation and the numerous subsequent attacks. According to Trump administration data, since September, the U.S. military has conducted over 20 attacks on boats allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, resulting in at least 87 deaths in these operations.
The latest attack carried out in the Eastern Pacific on Thursday is notable as it marks the first time since mid-November that the U.S. has targeted a drug-suspect boat. In the previous operation, three people were reported killed.
