US Military Intensifies Strikes Against Alleged Drug Vessels

The US military conducted its eighth strike against a suspected drug vessel, resulting in two fatalities. The strike occurred in the eastern Pacific Ocean, marking a shift from previous Caribbean targets. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth compared the cartels to Al Qaeda, emphasizing the US's resolute stance against the threat.

The US military has launched its eighth assault on an alleged drug vessel in the eastern Pacific, resulting in two deaths, as affirmed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The strike, taking place on Tuesday night, shifts focus from the Caribbean to the Pacific.

In a forceful message on social media, Hegseth equated the alleged drug traffickers to Al Qaeda, likening their threat to the terrorists behind the September 11, 2001, attacks. The military action has resulted in at least 34 fatalities from these operations so far.

President Donald Trump has aligned these strikes with the US's stance on drug cartels as an 'armed conflict,' leveraging legal authority similar to that invoked post-9/11 under President George W. Bush. A video released by Hegseth shows the dramatic explosion of a vessel half-loaded with brown packages on open waters.

(With inputs from agencies.)