The U.S. has carried out strikes towards 4 extra alleged drug vessels within the Japanese Pacific, Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth introduced Tuesday, killing 14 individuals.
“Yesterday, on the route of President Trump, the Division of Conflict carried out three deadly kinetic strikes on 4 vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations (DTO) trafficking narcotics within the Japanese Pacific,” Hegseth wrote on X, the place he posted a video of the strikes.
The newest motion brings the overall variety of individuals believed to have been killed to greater than 50.
In accordance with Hegseth, there was one survivor from Monday’s spherical of strikes.
“Relating to the survivor, USSOUTHCOM instantly initiated Search and Rescue (SAR) commonplace protocols; Mexican SAR authorities accepted the case and assumed accountability for coordinating the rescue,” he wrote on X.
Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth is seen within the Oval Workplace of the White Home as NATO Secretary Common Mark Rutte meets with President Donald Trump in Washington, October 22, 2025.
Aaron Schwartz/EPA/Shutterstock
The strikes are a part of what the administration has known as its “warfare” towards drug cartels. The U.S. navy has now hit 10 alleged drug boats within the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. Using deadly drive, nonetheless, has raised a number of authorized questions.
Along with the strikes, the U.S. final week ordered the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and its accompanying plane to the waters round Central and South America — a transfer designed to ratchet up strain towards the Venezuelan authorities.
It is a growing story. Please examine again for updates.
