WASHINGTON, Nov 7 (KUNA) -- U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced on Friday the killing of three people in a military strike targeting a boat suspected of drug trafficking in international waters of the Caribbean.
Hegseth said on X Thursday evening that "under the direction of President Donald Trump, the Department of War carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a designated terrorist organization." He added that U.S. intelligence confirmed the vessel's involvement in illegal drug smuggling along a known trafficking route, affirming that his department will continue to pursue and eliminate "narco-terrorists threatening American society." The total number of boats targeted by U.S. strikes against drug traffickers in international waters has now reached 16, resulting in 62 deaths since the campaign began last October.
Earlier last month, the U.S. administration informed Congress that the United States is engaged in an "armed conflict" with "terrorist" drug cartels. (end) amm.hs