US strikes 2nd alleged drug cartel vessel in Pacific, in expansion of attacks

[ad_1] The U.S. navy has carried out one other airstrike on an alleged drug cartel vessel -- the second vessel to be hit within the Jap Pacific Ocean in as many days.

The most recent strike was introduced by Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth in a social media publish on Wednesday that additionally included video of the assault, which he stated befell in worldwide waters earlier that day.

Hegseth alleged the vessel was transporting narcotics and stated three males have been killed within the strike.

"These strikes will proceed, day after day," Hegseth wrote. "These will not be merely drug runners -- these are narco-terrorists bringing dying and destruction to our cities," he stated within the publish.

<img alt="PHOTO: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that the Department of War conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel being operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization and conducting narco-trafficking in the Eastern Pacific on Oct. 21, 2022. " class="hsDdd NDJZt sJeUN IJwXl vBqtr KrDt itslR SjwtZ hakZw HlUVI " data-testid="prism-image" draggable="false" loading="lazy" src="https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/424964ab-2436-4a16-b480-4fc8c52ed4a1/boat-strike-1-ht-gmh-251022_1761156872572_hpMain.jpg"/> Secretary of Battle Pete Hegseth introduced on his X account that the Division of Battle carried out a deadly kinetic strike on a vessel being operated by a Designated Terrorist Group and conducting narco-trafficking within the Jap Pacific on Oct. 21, 2022.

@SecWar/X

Based on a authorities account, 37 individuals have been killed in 9 recognized U.S. strikes on alleged drug boats since early September.

Two individuals have survived and have been returned by the U.S. Navy to their residence international locations of Ecuador and Colombia. The survivor despatched to Ecuador has been launched, based on authorities there

Hegseth known as the drug cartels the "al Qaeda of our hemisphere" and stated they "won't escape justice."

The U.S. navy carried out a earlier strike within the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday, U.S. officers stated.

That strike occurred within the waters west of Central America, based on a U.S. official.

<img alt="PHOTO: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that the Department of War conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel being operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization and conducting narco-trafficking in the Eastern Pacific on Oct. 21, 2022. " class="hsDdd NDJZt sJeUN IJwXl vBqtr KrDt itslR SjwtZ hakZw HlUVI " data-testid="prism-image" draggable="false" loading="lazy" src="https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/fc9bd370-8638-48f0-b118-527b4ebaba70/boat-strike-2-ht-gmh-251022_1761156869532_hpMain.jpg"/> Secretary of Battle Pete Hegseth introduced on his X account that the Division of Battle carried out a deadly kinetic strike on a vessel being operated by a Designated Terrorist Group and conducting narco-trafficking within the Jap Pacific on Oct. 21, 2022.

@SecWar/X

Hegseth additionally launched video of that strike on social media earlier Wednesday. Hegseth confirmed the strike killed two individuals and befell within the Jap Pacific. He wrote that no U.S. forces have been harmed within the strike.

All of the earlier strikes had been carried out within the Caribbean Sea.

President Donald Trump stated Wednesday the operation has decreased the variety of boats making an attempt to convey medicine into the U.S. and that smugglers will now strive to usher in medicine by land. "And we are going to hit them very onerous after they are available by land they usually have not skilled that but," he stated.

Trump stated if the operation grew to incorporate targets on land, the White Home would "in all probability" go to Congress and clarify what it is doing, however he asserted "We do not have to do this."

Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth listens as President Donald Trump speaks earlier than a lunch with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy within the Cupboard Room of the White Home, Oct. 17, 2025, in Washington.

Alex Brandon/AP

Using deadly navy pressure in opposition to alleged drug smugglers is unprecedented and has raised authorized questions. Previous administrations relied on legislation enforcement to interdict drug shipments. The Trump administration has defended the strikes as a part of what it stated is a "battle" in opposition to cartels.

"They've sooner boats. A few of these boats are severely -- I imply, they're world-class speedboats -- however they are not sooner than missiles," Trump stated final week.