Pete Hegseth says 14 people were killed in strikes on alleged drug-carrying boats in the Pacific Ocean

US Military Launches Strikes on Pacific Ocean Vessels Allegedly Trafficking Narcotics, Killing 14 People.

The US military on Monday carried out three strikes on four vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean that were allegedly trafficking narcotics, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday. The operation resulted in the deaths of 14 people and one survivor, who was rescued by Mexican authorities.

According to Hegseth, the boats being targeted were operated by designated terrorist organizations (DTOs) and were known to US intelligence apparatus. A video shared by Hegseth showing the strikes has been made public, but details about the vessels or the alleged narcotics they were carrying remain scarce.

The strikes are part of a broader effort by President Donald Trump's administration to crack down on drug smugglers in the region. The move comes amid bipartisan pushback from lawmakers who have expressed concerns that the administration is not being transparent enough about its actions.

Critics argue that the strikes amount to "murder" and that the president should use alternative means, such as the Coast Guard, before resorting to military force. Senator Ruben Gallego, a Marine Corps veteran, said in an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" that he does not believe the administration has the legal authority to carry out strikes without congressional approval.

The latest strike brings the total number of people killed in US military operations so far this year to 57. The administration has launched a total of 13 strikes, with five occurring in the eastern Pacific and eight taking place in the Caribbean Sea.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed disapproval of the strikes when asked about them at a news conference Tuesday, saying that her country wants all international treaties to be respected. She requested that the ambassador from Mexico be called in and that the situation be reviewed.

The moves are seen as an escalation of Trump's threats to crack down on drug smugglers, even amid bipartisan pushback. The administration has faced criticism for its handling of the issue, with some lawmakers accusing it of violating the Constitution by pursuing military action without congressional approval.

In September, US military officials were reportedly preparing options to target traffickers in Venezuela, a move that could potentially take place in a matter of weeks.

You know what's crazy? We live in a world where some people are fighting for justice, but others just want to play by the rules . The US military is trying to stop traffickers, but some lawmakers are worried about following procedure . It's like, if you're on a mission to catch bad guys, do you call ahead or just go in guns blazing?

The thing is, there's no easy answer here . We need to consider the bigger picture: stopping narcotics from flowing into our communities. But we also have to think about protecting innocent lives and following due process .

I'm not taking sides, but I do think this situation highlights how complex it can be to balance justice with accountability . It's a reminder that sometimes, the right thing to do isn't always clear-cut . We need to have open conversations about these issues and find solutions that work for everyone .

I'm really worried about these strikes they're going to make a huge mess out there and put innocent people in harm's way #NotMyWar #StopTheBloodshed the admin needs to think twice before taking drastic action like this, they should've just worked with Mexico to crack down on trafficking instead of resorting to force #CollaborationOverConflict #PeaceNotViolence

Just saw this news about the US military launching strikes on Pacific Ocean vessels carrying narcotics. Got me thinking... 14 lives lost, one survivor... so much at stake.

You know, I'm not sure what's more concerning - the fact that they're allegedly trafficking narcotics or that the admin is taking matters into their own hands without clear oversight. The whole situation feels a bit too hush-hush for my liking .

And can we talk about the law implications here? 57 people killed this year already... it's getting out of hand . Need some clarity on what's going on and who's in charge .

I'm really troubled by this situation... I mean, 14 people lost their lives and it's just another number on a list... what's the point of taking someone out with a military strike when we know for sure they were involved in something? Can't we find better ways to deal with this issue? Like, have they considered working with other countries or even just supporting law enforcement agencies in the region? I'm not saying it's easy, but using force seems so... extreme... and is it really necessary?

Wow this is insane 14 lives lost over narcotics trafficking is just not worth it the fact that they're being called "designated terrorist organizations" raises red flags for me - what's the actual evidence against them? Are we talking about one-sided surveillance here or are we actually doing our due diligence to ensure justice is served?

14 ppl died in US strikes on Pacific Ocean vessels ... this is like war not just fighting crime . can't we just work with mex and others to stop trafficking? what's the hurry? also, isnt it crazy that congress r sayin they dont think its legal for them to do this? how are they gonna fix this?

Ugh , this whole thing is just so messed up... 14 lives lost, and I'm sure it's gonna spark even more controversy. I mean, can't we just have one conversation about the issue without people jumping all over each other? We should be focusing on finding solutions to prevent these tragedies from happening in the first place, not debating who's right or wrong.

I don't know what to make of this operation - some say it's a necessary evil to take down traffickers, while others argue that military force is not the answer. I get where they're coming from, but at the same time, I can see how we need to address the root causes of these problems. Maybe instead of just launching strikes, we could be working on building stronger international relationships and economies so people aren't resorting to smuggling in the first place?

It's all about finding that balance, you know?

I'm worried about the rising number of civilian casualties in these military operations... 14 lives lost is a lot and it's hard not to feel sympathy for the people who died in the strikes. I think it's a good idea for the administration to be more transparent about their actions, but at the same time, they need to find ways to combat narcotics trafficking without putting innocent lives at risk

OMG this is so messed up 14 lives lost because of alleged narcotics trafficking? It's just not right . And now the administration is saying it was necessary to use military force, but isn't that kinda extreme? I mean, wouldn't it have been better to just call in the Coast Guard or something? Like, why resort to violence first? It's not like we don't already know what these people are doing. It's all about being proactive and taking action, but at what cost? I'm also super worried about this escalation of Trump's threats... it feels like we're heading towards a bigger conflict . Can't we just find a more diplomatic solution to this problem?

Of course, because what's more effective than bombing a bunch of boats and killing 14 people? That's not a recipe for disaster at all . I mean, who needs due process or transparency when you can just use military force to solve the problem? And hey, it's not like we're talking about a humanitarian crisis here... it's just a bunch of smugglers doing what comes naturally to humans, right?

And let's give a shoutout to Senator Gallego for calling out this blatant disregard for congressional approval. I'm sure the President will totally take his concerns on board and make some sweeping changes to address them... not .

It's just another day in the world of international relations where we get to wonder what other creative ways our leaders can find to solve problems that require a lot more nuance than a simple drone strike .

This is getting outta hand... I'm all for taking down bad actors but 14 lives lost? That's just too much. I think the US military should be using more targeted approaches to take down these vessels, like working with international partners and law enforcement agencies to build a case against them before resorting to force. This approach seems so impulsive and reckless . The Mexican government is right to call for transparency and respect for international treaties - it's not just about taking down narco traffickers, but also about upholding the rule of law .

.. this is just getting crazy . I'm watching these videos of the strikes and it's like something outta a movie - bombs dropping from the sky, people running everywhere... it's so intense . But at the same time, you can't help but think about those 14 lives lost... what was going on with those vessels? Were they really just smuggling narcotics or was there more to it?

And now we're seeing all this pushback from lawmakers and the Mexican government - it's like everyone's just waiting for something to go down before they speak up. I'm not saying the administration should be transparent about everything, but come on... 57 people killed already this year? It's getting out of hand .

And then there's Trump's whole "we gotta crack down" vibe - what's really going on here? Is it just a power trip or are they really trying to make a difference? I don't know, but as someone who grew up watching news like this from Vietnam and Afghanistan... it's just not right .

idk man... 14 lives lost already this year from these strikes and people are still saying "go harder" on drug smugglers? it's like we're not even considering the human cost here. and what's with all these "designated terrorist organizations"? who gets to decide that? and what about the mexican president's concerns about respecting international treaties? shouldn't we be trying to find ways to work together rather than just resorting to military force? it feels like we're just throwing a bunch of money at the problem without really thinking through the consequences...

I'm really worried about these strikes and how they're gonna affect the people in Mexico 14 lives lost is way too many for something we don't know all the facts on it's true the US wants to crack down on narcotic trafficking but can't we find a better way to do it? Like, have they tried working with other countries and making sure everyone knows about these groups? I'm also thinking about that one senator who said something like the admin doesn't have the right to just launch strikes without Congress being in the loop that makes sense to me too.

Ugh, can't believe this . So the US military just goes around killing people on the Pacific Ocean vessels, no questions asked . Like what even is the process for doing this? They just launch strikes without checking if they have the right to do so in the first place? It's crazy how quickly they're escalating their actions and now we've got 14 dead bodies . I get that stopping narcotics trafficking is a big deal, but killing people isn't the answer . And what about due process and following international law? It feels like the government is just making it up as they go along . This is why we need more transparency and oversight from Congress . Can't trust the military to make these decisions on their own .

I don’t usually comment but... this is like something outta a movie, you know? 14 people dead and only one survivor ... it's just crazy how quickly the US military can launch these operations without even giving us all the details. I mean, I get it, they gotta crack down on narcotics trafficking, but this feels so extreme . And to be honest, it makes me wonder if we're missing something here? Are there other ways they could've handled this that wouldn't involve taking people's lives ... the numbers are already adding up for this year (57 people dead?) and I just wish they'd give us more info so we can have a real discussion about it .

I'm not surprised at all about this. It's just another example of how the US is always trying to flex its muscles and assert its dominance over others. And what's the cost? 14 lives lost, including Mexican nationals who were probably just trying to make a living. I mean, come on, can't they just use drones or something like that instead of bombing innocent boats? It's all about showing strength, but at what expense? The fact that lawmakers are already pushing back and saying the administration is not being transparent enough just shows how much of a mess this whole situation is. And now we're hearing rumors of plans to target traffickers in Venezuela... just more proof that the US is only looking out for its own interests, no matter who gets hurt in the process.