U.S. defense officials said Monday that American forces struck four vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing 14 men and leaving one survivor, as part of a broader campaign the administration says is aimed at narcotics networks it has labeled terrorist organizations. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the strikes and described the targets as traffickers operating along established narco-routes.
Mr. Hegseth said the strikes occurred in international waters and that no U.S. personnel were harmed. "All strikes were in international waters with no U.S. forces harmed," he said. He added the vessels were "known by our intelligence apparatus, transiting along known narco-trafficking routes, and carrying narcotics."
The strikes came as the White House has expanded a campaign targeting boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific that officials say has killed more than 50 suspected traffickers since Sept. 2. Mr. Hegseth framed the effort in stark terms: "The Department has spent over TWO DECADES defending other homelands. Now, we're defending our own. These narco-terrorists have killed more Americans than Al-Qaeda, and they will be treated the same. We will track them, we will network them, and then, we will hunt and kill them."
Administration officials said the four vessels were struck in three separate engagements. According to Mr. Hegseth:
- Eight male narco-terrorists were aboard the vessel during the first strike.
- Four male narco-terrorists were aboard the vessel during the second strike.
- Three male narco-terrorists were aboard the vessel during the third strike.
"A total of 14 narco-terrorists were killed during the three strikes, with one survivor," he said.
U.S. forces said they immediately initiated search-and-rescue measures for the survivor, and Mexican authorities took coordination responsibility. "Regarding the survivor, USSOUTHCOM immediately initiated Search and Rescue (SAR) standard protocols; Mexican SAR authorities accepted the case and assumed responsibility for coordinating the rescue," Mr. Hegseth said. The condition and whereabouts of the survivor were not disclosed.
President Donald Trump, who is on a multi-day trip in Asia, has defended the campaign publicly and signaled the administration would brief Congress while rejecting the need for a formal war authorization. "I think we're just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country. OK? We're going to kill them. You know? They're going to be like, dead," Mr. Trump said last week.
The escalation has drawn criticism from some lawmakers. Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.) called the strikes "extrajudicial killings" and told Fox News that Congress had received "no information" from the administration about the campaign. Mr. Paul said lawmakers had not been adequately briefed on the legal basis and oversight for the operations.
U.S. officials have separately said they carried out a night strike last week against a vessel linked to Tren de Aragua, describing it as the first such night operation. "Six male narco-terrorists were aboard the vessel during the strike, which was conducted in international waters - and was the first strike at night," Mr. Hegseth said. "All six terrorists were killed and no U.S. forces were harmed in this strike."
