US Military Conducts Eighth Lethal Strike on Drug-Smuggling Boats in Eastern Pacific

The United States military, under the direction of President Donald Trump, has conducted its eighth lethal strike on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in the Eastern Pacific, killing two individuals described as narco-terrorists. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated the vessel was known to be involved in narcotics smuggling and was targeted in international waters without any harm to U.S. forces. This operation is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to combat drug trafficking and narco-terrorism, with strikes primarily occurring near Venezuela and accompanied by covert CIA activities against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. The administration emphasizes that these cartels pose a warlike threat to U.S. borders and people, akin to Al Qaeda's attacks, and asserts that there will be no safe harbor or forgiveness for such groups. The strikes reflect an expansive approach including legal justifications for lethal actions against designated terrorist organizations involved in drug trafficking. Video evidence of the strikes has been publicly shared by Hegseth to underscore the administration's commitment to combating narcotics trafficking by land and sea.