U.S. Forces Strike Suspected Drug Vessel in Eastern Pacific
The U.S. military struck a suspected drug-smuggling vessel on Saturday, killing three people described by U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) as "male narco-terrorists," after an order from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, SOUTHCOM said in a statement posted on X on Sunday.
SOUTHCOM said the vessel was in international waters in the Eastern Pacific, was traveling along a known narco-trafficking route and was carrying illicit narcotics. The command said the group aboard was identified as a designated terrorist organization but did not name the group publicly. A short clip released by SOUTHCOM shows the boat being struck and erupting in flames.
According to CBS News, this was the 21st U.S. military strike against vessels accused of carrying narcotics in recent weeks, part of a stepped-up maritime campaign that has also included strikes in the Caribbean. In late October, Pentagon officials said four additional vessels were destroyed in the Pacific during similar operations.
Domestic and International Reactions
Lawmakers across party lines and foreign leaders have raised concerns about the strikes. Some Democrats and Republican Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) have questioned the legal authority and oversight for the operations, asking whether proper authorization and due process requirements have been met.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro publicly condemned the actions and, in an interview with Univision, made inflammatory comments about President Donald Trump that drew a sharp response. President Trump accused Petro of hurting his country and warned he could take "very serious action" against Petro and Colombia. Trump also called Petro an "illegal drug leader" and criticized Colombia's drug-production problems.
"They make cocaine — they have cocaine factories. They grow all sorts of crap — that’s drugs, bad drugs coming into the United States," Trump said in recent remarks, adding that Colombia should "watch it, or we’ll take very serious action against him and his country."
The strike and accompanying statement from SOUTHCOM leave several open questions, including the identity of the organization targeted, the specific legal basis cited for operations in international waters, and whether further investigation or public disclosure will follow. Officials have yet to release a detailed after-action report or casualty verification beyond SOUTHCOM's initial statement.
