U.S. Strikes Kill 14 Suspected Traffickers in Four Naval Raids
The Pentagon’s mention of cooperation with Mexican authorities suggests that not all regional governments oppose these actions.
Quick overview
- A series of U.S. attacks on boats suspected of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific resulted in 14 alleged traffickers dead and one survivor.
- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that Mexican authorities are now leading the search and rescue operation for the survivor.
- The attacks were part of a larger U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, involving advanced naval assets and thousands of troops.
- Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned the U.S. actions, accusing President Trump of escalating military tensions in the region.
A series of U.S. attacks on boats suspected of transporting drugs in the eastern Pacific left 14 alleged traffickers dead and one survivor, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday.
In a post on X, Hegseth confirmed that Mexican authorities had taken over the search and rescue operation for the sole survivor following three strikes carried out on Monday.
“All four vessels were known to our intelligence network, operating along established narcotrafficking routes and carrying narcotics,” Hegseth said, without providing evidence.
Hegseth also released a 30-second video appearing to show two small boats close together before exploding, followed by footage of another vessel speeding across the water and then detonating.
The Words of the U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
The Pacific attacks come amid a major U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean that includes guided-missile destroyers, F-35 fighter jets, a nuclear-powered submarine, and thousands of troops. The Pentagon has also ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to the region, expected to arrive in the coming weeks.
In his statement on X, Hegseth detailed the results of the operation:
“Eight male narco-terrorists were aboard the vessels during the first strike. Four were aboard the vessel during the second strike, and three during the third. A total of 14 narco-terrorists were killed in the three strikes, with one survivor.
All strikes took place in international waters, with no U.S. forces harmed. Following the attacks, SOUTHCOM initiated standard search and rescue protocols. Mexican SAR authorities accepted the case and assumed responsibility for coordinating the rescue.”
The Pentagon’s mention of cooperation with Mexican authorities suggests that not all regional governments oppose the stepped-up U.S. military actions near their shores—or perhaps that some are reluctant to confront the Trump administration.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro accused President Trump of “inventing a war,” condemning what he called an “unprecedented military escalation” in the Caribbean, which has already involved diverting an aircraft carrier group from the Mediterranean.
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