US Military Strikes Drug Smugglers in the Pacific, Killing Three

Fri Oct 24 2025 09:33:47 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a significant escalation of its anti-drug operations, the US military has conducted a second airstrike on alleged drug boats in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. These operations have raised tensions with Colombia, which condemns the strikes as unlawful.

The US military has launched its second airstrike targeting alleged drug smuggling vessels in the Pacific, killing three. This comes as part of a broader initiative against narco-terrorism. Colombia's government condemned the attacks, labeling them excessive and illegal. US officials assert that these operations aim to combat serious drug-related threats, while critics argue they violate international law.

US forces have struck a second vessel alleged to be carrying drugs in the Pacific Ocean, amid an escalating US campaign against seaborne drug smuggling.

Three people were killed and no US forces were harmed in the strike on Wednesday, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said. It followed an earlier strike that killed two individuals.

Colombia's government has denounced the US for carrying out strikes on vessels near its coast, stating that the American action is akin to applying the death penalty in a territory that is not yours.

These strikes mark the first of their kind carried out in Pacific waters, while similar operations in the past were primarily conducted in the Caribbean.

These strikes will continue, day after day. These are not simply drug runners - these are narco-terrorists bringing death and destruction to our cities, Hegseth posted on X.

A posted video seemingly captured the moment a boat caught fire following a US bombing. This was followed by a second airstrike targeting debris floating in the water.

Colombia's deputy foreign minister, Mauricio Jaramillo, criticized the actions as disproportionate and outside international law and noted that those aboard the targeted vessels had no means of defense. He urged the US to collaborate with Colombia instead of conducting unilateral strikes.

US President Donald Trump stated he has the legal authority to carry on with operations against drug-laden boats in international waters and is considering expanding actions against targets on land.

This expansion into the Pacific is notable, as this area is a more major drug trafficking route compared to the Caribbean, aligning with US justifications for these military actions. However, such strikes are also thought to be part of a strategy to exert military pressure on the Venezuelan government.

At least 37 individuals have been reported dead due to US strikes on alleged drug transporting vessels.

Both Colombia and Ecuador have extensive Pacific coastlines utilized for trafficking drugs towards the US through Central America and Mexico. US estimates suggest a significant amount of cocaine destined for US markets moves through the Pacific.

Officials from the US have released few details about those killed in the recent operations or the criminal organizations they supposedly represent.

Currently, approximately 10,000 US troops and numerous military assets have been deployed to the Caribbean region as part of this enhanced anti-drug initiative.