WASHINGTON, 23 October (H.S.):

The U.S. military has expanded its aggressive campaign against South American drug trafficking into the Pacific Ocean, conducting a deadly strike that killed two people aboard a suspected narco-vessel, the Pentagon announced on Wednesday.The attack, which occurred Tuesday night, was the eighth such strike but the first outside the Caribbean Sea.

In a social media post, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the two fatalities, bringing the total death toll from the campaign to at least 34 since it began last month. Hegseth released a video showing a small boat laden with packages exploding in flames.

The Trump administration has justified these lethal operations by asserting that the United States is in an armed conflict with drug cartels, designating them as unlawful combatants. This legal rationale mirrors the authority used during the war on terror following the 9/11 attacks. Just as Al Qaeda waged war on our homeland, these cartels are waging war on our border and our people, Hegseth stated, vowing no refuge or forgiveness — only justice.

This strike signifies a strategic shift in the military’s targeting area, focusing on the eastern Pacific, the primary route for cocaine smuggled from Colombia, the world’s largest producer. This comes despite data showing that the majority of American overdose deaths are caused by fentanyl, which is mainly transported overland from Mexico.

The administration’s approach has drawn scrutiny, particularly as it has sidestepped prosecution for individuals on the targeted vessels. Survivors from a previous strike were returned to their home countries, and one was later released by Ecuadorian officials who cited a lack of evidence that he had committed a crime in their country.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar