Pentagon reports 4 deaths in recent attack on suspected drug vessel

The U.S. military has carried out another operation targeting a suspected drug-smuggling vessel off the coast of Latin America, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, according to the Pentagon. The strike took place in the Eastern Pacific and was directed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Southern Command stated, sharing unclassified footage of the attack on social media.

"Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transporting illegal narcotics along a recognized trafficking route in the Eastern Pacific," U.S. Southern Command explained. "Four men aboard the vessel were killed."

Since early September, the U.S. has conducted at least 22 attacks on vessels in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean regions suspected of drug trafficking, with at least 87 fatalities reported. Thursdays operation marked the first confirmed strike since November 15.

These attacks are part of a broader U.S. initiative to exert pressure on the government of Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro. They also follow scrutiny of a September 2 strike in the Caribbean that killed 11 people. Reports indicated that two missiles were fired at that boat, a detail later confirmed by the White House. Questions have been raised by some lawmakers about whether the second missile strike could be considered a war crime.

According to sources, the second strike targeted survivors attempting to reboard the vessel to recover narcotics. Hegseth has denied authorizing this second attack, attributing the decision to Navy Admiral Frank "Mitch" Bradley, head of the U.S. Special Operations Command. Both Hegseth and Bradley have denied ordering the killing of all aboard the boat, as alleged in media reports.

Congressional members viewed footage of the second strike during a closed-door briefing with Bradley and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut described the video as "one of the most troubling things" he has seen in public service, while Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas stated he "didn't see anything disturbing about it."

Author: Olivia Parker