Overview
- U.S. Southern Command said a lethal strike in international waters killed four people at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s direction under Operation Southern Spear.
- Officials posted a brief strike video but offered no public evidence that the targeted vessel was carrying narcotics.
- Wednesday’s operation was the second this week after three boats were hit Monday, bringing the administration’s acknowledged tally to 26 strikes since Sept. 2.
- At least 99 people have been killed in the campaign, according to figures cited by the Pentagon and administration statements.
- The votes came as lawmakers and legal experts intensified scrutiny of the strikes’ legal basis and oversight, citing an alleged Sept. 2 follow-on strike and pressing for unedited footage while the U.S. expands its regional posture and enforces a blockade on sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers.