The U.S. military conducted a strike on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in international waters of the eastern Pacific on Wednesday, killing three individuals aboard, according to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The operation marks an escalation in Washington’s campaign against maritime narcotics networks, drawing sharp criticism from Colombian leaders.
Hegseth described the targeted vessel as part of a “Designated Terrorist Organization” involved in transporting narcotics along a known trafficking route. “These are narco-terrorists bringing death to our cities,” he stated on social media, vowing continued strikes to “extinguish the threat to the American people.”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the action as “murder,” arguing the strike violated international law. Colombia’s Foreign Ministry separately demanded an immediate halt to such operations. The incident follows seven similar U.S. military actions in the Caribbean since September, with total fatalities now exceeding 37.
Analysts note the eastern Pacific remains a key corridor for drug trafficking, but the legality of unilateral strikes in international waters continues to fuel diplomatic tensions. The U.S. has yet to confirm the nationality of the latest targeted vessel.
