U.S. Military Escalates Counter-Narcotics Campaign with Strikes in Pacific

The U.S. military conducted a strike against a drug-smuggling vessel in the Eastern Pacific, marking an expansion of its counter-narcotics operations under the Trump administration. The strike, confirmed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, underscores the administration's intensified efforts against the drug trade, raising regional tensions and legal questions.

The U.S. military has expanded its counter-narcotics campaign with a recent strike on a perceived drug-smuggling vessel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced. This military action marks one of the first known strikes in the region since President Trump's ramped-up offensive against narcotics trafficking.

The vessel, identified by intelligence as a participant in illicit drug activities, was traveling on a known smuggling route. Hegseth shared a video showing the vessel's destruction but did not provide detailed evidence of its cargo. Similar strikes in the Caribbean have resulted in rising tensions with Venezuela and Colombia, although specifics on the smuggling operations remain scant.

Legal experts question the military's involvement in these operations, typically the domain of the Coast Guard. The latest military activity coincides with a build-up of U.S. forces in the Caribbean, entailing missile destroyers and fighter jets. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard's Operation Viper has seen significant seizures, raising questions about the necessity of military strikes in such operations.

(With inputs from agencies.)