Overview
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said two vessels were hit Sunday in international waters, with three men on each boat killed and no U.S. forces harmed.
- The operation brings the tally to 19 known strikes since early September, with at least 75 people killed and roughly 20 vessels destroyed as activity shifts toward the eastern Pacific.
- Officials say targets are selected based on intelligence linking boats to cartels, and they do not always know the identities of those aboard before striking.
- The White House cites a classified Justice Department opinion treating traffickers as unlawful combatants under Title 10, while lawmakers continue to demand evidence and full legal justifications after recent briefings.
- U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk urged U.S. investigations, citing strong indications of violations, as a growing U.S. military presence heightens tensions with Venezuela.