The United States military conducted strikes on two vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Sunday, reportedly killing six people aboard. The Pentagon says the operations targeted boats carrying narcotics, marking the latest escalation in the US campaign against drug trafficking at sea.

Pentagon Confirms Drone Strikes in International Waters

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the strikes, stating that intelligence indicated both vessels were engaged in illegal narcotics smuggling along known trafficking routes.

“Both strikes were conducted in international waters, and three male narco-terrorists were aboard each vessel. All six were killed. No US forces were harmed,” Hegseth wrote in a social media post.

The strikes are part of a broader US initiative that began in September 2025, targeting suspected drug smuggling vessels in the Caribbean before expanding to the Pacific Ocean.

Escalating US Anti-Narcotics Campaign

This latest attack marks the fourth strike this month in the Pacific and Caribbean regions. Since the campaign began, the United States has carried out 18 strikes, killing dozens, according to official figures.

The Trump administration has framed these actions as counterterrorism operations, following its designation of drug cartels as terrorist organizations.

“Under President Trump, we are protecting the homeland and killing these cartel terrorists who wish to harm our country and its people,” Hegseth said.

International Criticism and Legal Concerns

The US campaign has drawn mounting international criticism. United Nations rights chief Volker Turk condemned the strikes, stating:

“These attacks – and their mounting human cost – are unacceptable. The US must halt such attacks and take all measures necessary to prevent the extrajudicial killing of people aboard these boats, whatever the criminal conduct alleged against them.”

Critics argue that the US has provided little evidence to confirm that the targeted vessels were carrying narcotics, and question why the boats were not intercepted once they entered US territorial waters rather than attacked in international waters.

Regional Tensions with Venezuela

The strikes have further strained relations with Venezuela, with President Trump accusing Nicolas Maduro of connections to “narcoterrorists.”

While Trump has suggested that a military conflict with Venezuela is unlikely, analysts say the ongoing naval operations could signal increased US readiness to act against alleged cartel-linked threats in the oil-rich South American nation.

Lack of Transparency and Public Debate

Despite grainy footage released by the Pentagon, the US government has not shared conclusive proof of narcotics on the targeted vessels. Trump has previously joked that fishermen in the Caribbean near Venezuela are now afraid to operate, raising questions about the proportionality and legality of the strikes.

The ongoing operations have sparked debate over the US approach to extrajudicial killings, sovereignty in international waters, and the balance between national security and international law.