U.S. forces struck two more boats allegedly operated by drug cartels in the eastern Pacific on Sunday, killing six people, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said in a statement.
The latest in a string of similar operations against what the U.S. government calls "designated terrorist organizations," the two strikes were carried out in international waters and three men were aboard each vessel, Hegseth said.
"These vessels were known by our intelligence to be associated with illicit narcotics smuggling, were carrying narcotics, and were transiting along a known narco-trafficking transit route in the Eastern Pacific," Hegseth said on X.
The defense secretary described all six victims as "narco-terrorists." In keeping with past boat strikes, the men were not named and no evidence was presented to show their links to organized drug trafficking.
Hegseth posted video showing the moment of the strikes.
The strikes have angered South American countries, including Colombia and Venezuela, and caused rancor on Capitol Hill, where senators last week narrowly voted down a measure that would require congressional approval for any potential military action taken by Trump against Venezuela.
Trump last month said he could seek the backing of Congress for his ongoing military action against suspected drug smugglers, suggesting it would have no trouble passing while asserting that he didn't need to seek a declaration of war.
