Overview
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said U.S. forces struck two vessels in the Eastern Pacific at President Trump’s direction, killing six people in international waters.
- Hegseth said the boats were operated by designated terrorist organizations and assessed to be carrying narcotics along a known trafficking route, and he reported no U.S. casualties.
- Officials have not released corroborating evidence tying the specific targets to narcotics smuggling or a threat to the United States, drawing renewed criticism over transparency and legality.
- The announcement follows a campaign that began in September targeting vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, with at least 75 deaths reported to date.
- The administration frames the maritime operations as part of an armed conflict with designated cartels under a DOJ‑approved legal rationale, which continues to face congressional and international scrutiny.