U.S. Strikes Alleged Drug Vessels in Eastern Pacific, Killing Six Amid Growing International Criticism

The United States military struck two vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Sunday, killing six people suspected of drug trafficking, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed on Monday. According to Hegseth, intelligence reports indicated that the boats were transporting narcotics along a known smuggling route. A video shared by the defense secretary on X showed the vessels being hit during the operation.

Since September, the U.S. has conducted more than a dozen similar strikes on vessels near the Venezuelan coast and in the Pacific, resulting in over 70 deaths. The U.S. claims the targets were linked to narcotics smuggling, though it has not presented concrete evidence. The growing number of attacks has prompted mounting calls from foreign leaders, members of Congress, and human rights groups for independent investigations into the legality and evidence behind the strikes.

The United Nations human rights chief condemned the operations as violations of international law, while Venezuela labeled the actions as “murder” and “aggression against a sovereign nation.” Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro accused former U.S. President Donald Trump of attempting to destabilize his government, as Washington expanded its military presence in the Caribbean with warships and nuclear assets in recent months.

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