The Pentagon says a US military strike has killed four men aboard a boat suspected of transporting illegal narcotics in international waters of the eastern Pacific. The attack, carried out by Joint Task Force Southern Spear on the orders of Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, marks the 22nd such strike since September. The US Southern Command said intelligence confirmed the vessel was operated by a “Designated Terrorist Organization” and was travelling along a known drug-smuggling route.
The latest strike brings the death toll from the campaign to at least 87, fueling growing scrutiny in Washington. Lawmakers are demanding clarity on the legal basis for targeting suspected drug smugglers, especially after a controversial September incident where two survivors were reportedly killed while clinging to wreckage.
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Defence Secretary Hegseth is under mounting pressure, including impeachment articles filed by a Democratic lawmaker. A Washington Post report alleged he verbally instructed forces to “kill them all”, a claim the Pentagon denies.
Military officials insist the operations are lawful, but reactions remain sharply divided. Some lawmakers call the footage “deeply troubling”, while others argue the targets are dangerous narco-terrorists threatening US security.
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