The U.S. military conducted one of its US military narco-terrorist strikes on Wednesday, killing four men aboard a vessel in the Eastern Pacific at the direction of President Donald Trump.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announced the military carried out a “lethal kinetic strike on yet another narco-trafficking vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO).” Hegseth stated the vessel “was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling” and was traveling along a known trafficking route.
“Four male narco-terrorists were aboard the vessel — and killed — during the strike, which was conducted in international waters,” Hegseth said in a Pete Hegseth Pentagon statement. He added that no U.S. forces were harmed in the operation.
Continuation of US Military Narco-Terrorist Strikes
This marks the 14th such strike on suspected drug boats since September, bringing the total number of people killed to 61. Only three people have reportedly survived the strikes, with at least two later repatriated to their home countries.
Hegseth warned that “the Western Hemisphere is no longer a safe haven for narco-terrorists bringing drugs to our shores to poison Americans.” The Department of War “will continue to hunt them down and eliminate them wherever they operate,” he added.
Lawmakers Scrutinize Legal Justification for Military Strikes
The Trump administration’s actions have drawn scrutiny from lawmakers over concerns about due process and the potential killing of innocent people. Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have penned a letter demanding a review of the legal justification for military strikes.
“Drug trafficking is a terrible crime that has had devastating impacts on American families and communities and should be prosecuted,” the letter stated. “Nonetheless, the President’s actions to hold alleged drug traffickers accountable must still conform with the law.“
Rand Paul Questions Trump Boat Strike Legality
Senator Rand Paul questions Trump boat strike legality, citing Coast Guard statistics that show a significant percentage of boats boarded for suspected drug trafficking are found to be innocent. The Pentagon has refused to release the identities of those killed or provide evidence of narcotics on the vessel.
The administration has targeted boats it claims are linked to the Venezuela-based Tren de Aragua gang US military actions are focused on. Paul argued that if the administration intends to engage in a war with Venezuela, it must first seek a formal declaration of war from Congress.
