US Military Conducts 30th Strike on Suspected Drug Vessel in Pacific, Killing Two

The U.S. military has conducted its 30th strike since September on a vessel suspected of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in two fatalities. The operation, directed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, targeted a boat identified as being operated by a designated terrorist organization in international waters. U.S. Southern Command stated that intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting known narco-trafficking routes and engaged in illicit operations. No U.S. forces were harmed during the strike.

This latest action brings the total number of known naval attacks on suspected drug smugglers to 30 since September, with at least 107 individuals killed, according to U.S. military figures. The Trump administration has framed these operations as part of an "armed conflict" with drug cartels to curb narcotics trafficking into the United States. However, the campaign has faced scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and human rights groups, who question the legal basis for the strikes and have called for investigations into their legality and humanitarian implications.

President Donald Trump has justified the attacks on suspected drug smugglers with the claim that each shipment would have led to the deaths of 25,000 Americans. Additionally, Trump mentioned a recent strike on a facility along a shoreline used for loading drug-smuggling boats, though he did not specify the exact location or responsible agency. This marks an escalation in the administration's anti-drug operations, including strikes near Venezuelan dock facilities.