U.S. Conducts Seventh Strike on Suspected Drug Vessel, Killing Three

"...The U.S. military executed its seventh strike on an alleged drug-trafficking vessel on Friday, resulting in the deaths of three individuals, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Sunday...."

"...The targeted boat was reportedly associated with the Ejército de Liberación Nacional, a Colombian guerrilla group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. since the 1990s...."

"...Hegseth stated that the vessel "was traveling along a known narco-trafficking route, and was transporting substantial amounts of narcotics."..."

"...The operation occurred in international waters within the U.S. Southern Command's area of responsibility, which encompasses the Caribbean Sea...."

"...Hegseth emphasized the administration's stance, declaring, "The United States military will treat these organizations like the terrorists they are—they will be hunted, and killed, just like Al Qaeda."..."

"...Since the commencement of these operations last month, at least 32 individuals have been killed in U.S. strikes targeting alleged drug boats...."

"...The Trump administration asserts that the U.S. is engaged in a "non-international armed conflict" with drug cartels, contending that the narcotics they smuggle result in tens of thousands of American deaths annually, thereby constituting an "armed attack."..."

"...President Trump remarked, "When they're loaded up with drugs, they're fair game, and every one of those ships were."..."

"...However, these actions have elicited concerns from lawmakers who are seeking more evidence that the targeted boats were indeed carrying drugs and question the legal justification for the attacks...."

"...Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona expressed skepticism, stating that the legal rationale provided to Congress was "very convoluted."..."

"...He noted, "They had a very hard time explaining to us ... the legal rationale for doing this and the constitutionality of doing it. The brief we got had a tremendous number of holes in it, and they had to go round and around to give us the legal rationale for doing this."..."