Washington, D.C. — The U.S. military reported on Monday that it conducted strikes on three vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals. These actions coincide with increased scrutiny from Congress regarding these maritime operations.
Details of the Operations
The military released a statement via social media asserting that the strikes targeted "designated terrorist organizations." The strikes resulted in three fatalities on the first vessel, two on the second, and three on the third. While the military shared a video depicting a vessel in motion prior to an explosion, it did not immediately provide specific evidence supporting the alleged drug trafficking claims.
Administration's Position and Congressional Oversight
President Donald Trump has stated these attacks are a necessary measure to curb the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. He has characterized the U.S. involvement as an "armed conflict" with drug cartels. However, the Trump administration's campaign of boat strikes is under increasing review by lawmakers. Since early September, this campaign has reportedly caused at least 95 fatalities across 25 documented strikes, which includes an incident where two survivors clinging to wreckage after an initial strike were also killed in a subsequent strike.
Briefings for all members of Congress are scheduled on Capitol Hill following these latest strikes. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other senior national security officials are anticipated to provide closed-door updates to both House and Senate lawmakers.
Regional Context and Further Actions
The military campaign has occurred concurrently with increased U.S. efforts concerning Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who faces narcoterrorism charges in the U.S. Last week, U.S. forces seized a sanctioned oil tanker, which the Trump administration alleged was involved in smuggling illicit crude oil. President Maduro has maintained that the U.S. military operations are intended to remove him from office.
The U.S. military has established its most significant presence in the region in decades, initiating a series of strikes against vessels suspected of drug smuggling in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. President Trump has indicated that land-based operations are forthcoming but has not disclosed further details regarding their location.