The United States military has conducted deadly strikes on three vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing at least eight men in what officials described as an operation targeting suspected drug traffickers.
U.S. Southern Command said the strikes took place in international waters and were directed at boats that intelligence had identified as moving along well-known narcotics trafficking routes and actively involved in smuggling operations.
According to the military, the attacks were carried out on three separate vessels believed to be linked to organised narcotics networks. Officials referred to those killed as “narco-terrorists,” a term used by the administration to describe individuals involved in large-scale drug trafficking operations.
In a brief statement shared publicly, Southern Command said the strikes were part of a broader campaign aimed at disrupting illicit drug trafficking and protecting American communities from the flow of illegal narcotics.
The first vessel was struck in a precision attack that resulted in three fatalities. A second strike killed two people aboard another vessel, while a third attack left three dead, bringing the total number of fatalities to eight. No U.S. service members were injured during the operations.
The military also released footage showing one of the boats exploding after being struck, with flames engulfing the vessel before it sank. Officials said the use of force was authorised after intelligence assessments concluded the vessels posed a direct threat through their role in transnational drug trafficking.
President Donald Trump defended the strikes, describing them as part of an ongoing armed conflict against drug cartels and their affiliated criminal organisations. He has repeatedly argued that drug trafficking constitutes a national security threat and has likened cartel activity to terrorism.
The military campaign has drawn intense scrutiny from lawmakers and legal experts in Washington. Critics argue that using lethal military force against suspected smugglers raises serious legal and ethical questions, particularly when such strikes occur in international waters and without a clear indication that those targeted were engaged in hostilities against U.S. forces.
Since early September, U.S. forces have carried out dozens of similar strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, resulting in a growing number of deaths. Officials say these operations are intended to disrupt maritime smuggling routes that play a major role in transporting illegal drugs toward the United States.
Some earlier strikes targeted individual boats suspected of carrying large narcotics shipments. While defence officials insist the actions were lawful, critics have questioned whether sufficient evidence was presented to justify lethal force against the vessels and their crews.
The campaign has also heightened tensions with governments in Latin America, particularly Venezuela, which the Trump administration has accused of facilitating drug trafficking. The United States has increased its naval presence in the region, prompting concerns from neighbouring countries and international observers.
Within Congress, lawmakers from both parties have called for greater transparency and oversight. Some have questioned whether the president has the authority to order such strikes without explicit congressional approval, while others have expressed concern about potential violations of international law.
Human rights groups have warned that striking vessels without judicial process could amount to extrajudicial killings, regardless of the alleged criminal activity of those on board. They argue that counter-drug efforts should prioritise law enforcement cooperation and judicial accountability over military action.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has strongly supported the strikes, frequently promoting them as decisive actions against drug networks and defending the approach as necessary to combat what the administration views as a growing threat.
Administration officials argue that aggressive action is essential to reduce the flow of narcotics such as cocaine and fentanyl, substances linked to tens of thousands of overdose deaths in the United States each year.
As debate continues, congressional committees have scheduled briefings with defence and state department officials to examine the intelligence, legal frameworks, and operational safeguards behind the strikes.
For now, U.S. military leaders indicate that operations against suspected trafficking vessels will continue, signalling a significant escalation in America’s counter-drug strategy and raising enduring questions about the boundaries of military power beyond traditional battlefields.
