U.S. Military Strikes Three Boats in Eastern Pacific, Eight Fatalities Reported

U.S. Military Reports Eight Fatalities in Eastern Pacific Strikes

The U.S. military announced on Monday that strikes were conducted against three boats in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals. These operations occurred as congressional scrutiny intensified regarding the military's boat strike campaign.

The military's statement on social media indicated that the strikes targeted "designated terrorist organizations." The first vessel strike resulted in three fatalities, the second boat in two, and the third in three. The military did not provide direct evidence of alleged drug trafficking in its statement but did release a video depicting a boat prior to an explosion.

President Donald Trump has characterized these attacks as a necessary escalation aimed at stemming the flow of drugs into the United States. He has asserted that the U.S. is engaged in an "armed conflict" with drug cartels. The campaign has drawn increasing examination from lawmakers, with reports indicating at least 95 fatalities across 25 known strikes since early September. This count includes a follow-up strike that reportedly killed two survivors clinging to wreckage after an initial hit. Closed-door briefings for members of Congress by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other national security officials are scheduled to address the military campaign.

These operations align with ongoing pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who faces narcoterrorism charges in the U.S. Recently, U.S. forces seized a sanctioned oil tanker that the Trump administration accused of smuggling illicit crude. Maduro has stated his belief 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 on alleged drug-smuggling vessels in both the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean. President Trump has also indicated that land attacks are forthcoming, though no specific locations or details have been provided.