The Pete Hegseth‑led Pentagon announced Wednesday that U.S. military forces conducted another lethal strike in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, targeting a vessel the administration claims was operated by a designated terrorist organization and engaged in narcotics trafficking.
According to Hegseth, intelligence confirmed the targeted boat was transiting a known narcotics route and carrying illicit drugs. The strike was carried out in international waters under orders from Donald Trump, and resulted in the deaths of three alleged “narco‑terrorists.”
This operation marks a further shift in U.S. policy, as previous strikes under the Trump administration focused primarily on the Caribbean Sea. The latest action extends the campaign into the Pacific region, raising questions about the scope, legal basis and oversight of these military operations.
The operation signals a strategic expansion of U.S. counter-narcotics and counterterrorism efforts beyond traditional hotspots. While administration officials defend the action as a necessary measure to disrupt transnational crime, it raises broader questions about congressional oversight, rules of engagement, and long-term objectives in regions not formally designated as conflict zones. As the campaign continues, scrutiny over the legal and geopolitical implications of such strikes is likely to grow, especially as U.S. military force is increasingly used to confront non-state actors in international waters.
