US Military Launches String of Deadly Strikes in Pacific, Killing 14 and Leaving One Survivor
In a series of brazen attacks, the US military has killed at least 51 people and left one survivor after striking vessels in the eastern Pacific, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The strikes, which took place on Sunday, targeted four boats allegedly involved in narco-trafficking activities, with Hegseth describing them as "narco-terrorists".
The US has now launched at least 13 attacks on vessels since launching its campaign in the Caribbean in September, with the latest strikes marking a significant escalation of the administration's efforts to combat drug cartels. The campaign has been marked by criticism from lawmakers and human rights groups, who argue that it lacks transparency and accountability.
Hegseth sought to justify the strikes by drawing comparisons with the US' military actions against al-Qaida targets during the global "war on terror", but this comparison has been disputed by legal experts. When the US targeted al-Qaida members, Congress had authorized the use of force, whereas Trump's administration has relied on his Article II powers to defend the US against an imminent threat.
Republican senator Rand Paul expressed concern over the unilateral strikes, stating that they were indicative of a war rather than targeted law enforcement actions. Paul also criticized the lack of evidence and the presence of unknown individuals, which he argued was more characteristic of a prelude to war.
The latest boat strikes come as the US appears set to expand its campaign beyond vessels and target land-based targets in the coming weeks. The Pentagon has deployed its most advanced aircraft carrier and strike group to the Caribbean, with the USS Gerald Ford expected to arrive in Venezuelan waters by the end of the week.
This development marks a significant escalation of the administration's efforts, which are expected to bring increased firepower and ability to hit air-defense systems in Venezuela. US special operations or drones may be used to destroy land-based targets, raising concerns about the potential for civilian casualties and the rule of law.
The Trump administration has directed Hegseth to notify Congress about its plans, but details on specific targets and countries remain unclear. The President's statement that "the land is going to be next" suggests a significant expansion of the campaign, which may raise further questions about accountability and transparency.
In a series of brazen attacks, the US military has killed at least 51 people and left one survivor after striking vessels in the eastern Pacific, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The strikes, which took place on Sunday, targeted four boats allegedly involved in narco-trafficking activities, with Hegseth describing them as "narco-terrorists".
The US has now launched at least 13 attacks on vessels since launching its campaign in the Caribbean in September, with the latest strikes marking a significant escalation of the administration's efforts to combat drug cartels. The campaign has been marked by criticism from lawmakers and human rights groups, who argue that it lacks transparency and accountability.
Hegseth sought to justify the strikes by drawing comparisons with the US' military actions against al-Qaida targets during the global "war on terror", but this comparison has been disputed by legal experts. When the US targeted al-Qaida members, Congress had authorized the use of force, whereas Trump's administration has relied on his Article II powers to defend the US against an imminent threat.
Republican senator Rand Paul expressed concern over the unilateral strikes, stating that they were indicative of a war rather than targeted law enforcement actions. Paul also criticized the lack of evidence and the presence of unknown individuals, which he argued was more characteristic of a prelude to war.
The latest boat strikes come as the US appears set to expand its campaign beyond vessels and target land-based targets in the coming weeks. The Pentagon has deployed its most advanced aircraft carrier and strike group to the Caribbean, with the USS Gerald Ford expected to arrive in Venezuelan waters by the end of the week.
This development marks a significant escalation of the administration's efforts, which are expected to bring increased firepower and ability to hit air-defense systems in Venezuela. US special operations or drones may be used to destroy land-based targets, raising concerns about the potential for civilian casualties and the rule of law.
The Trump administration has directed Hegseth to notify Congress about its plans, but details on specific targets and countries remain unclear. The President's statement that "the land is going to be next" suggests a significant expansion of the campaign, which may raise further questions about accountability and transparency.
I'm getting worried about this US military campaign in the Pacific... 51 people dead already? That's crazy! It seems like they're just swooping in and taking out whoever they think is involved with narco-trafficking, no questions asked. Back in my day, we didn't do that kind of thing without a trial or at least some due process... 
What's the point of saying these guys are "narco-terrorists" if you're just gonna bomb 'em anyway? And what about all those folks who might be innocent bystanders? I don't like the sound of this one bit... 
The Pentagon deploying an entire strike group to the Caribbean? That's not about taking down narco-traffickers, that's about making a statement. And what about those drones and special ops? It's like they're preparing for war. Not sure I trust this "war on terror" comparison either... seems like a convenient excuse to me. 
what's next, gonna start shootin' at random boats for fun? 
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. And what about accountability? If the land-based targets are next on the agenda, that's just chilling 
. We need to know who gets targeted and why, especially when there's no clear evidence of wrongdoing.
, first they're targeting boats and now it seems like they want to take the fight on land too? It just feels like things are getting out of hand, we need some answers from the government on how this is all going down...
i mean i get it we need to take care of these narco-traffickers but all those innocent ppl getting killed & left with survivors its just too much 
the pentagon is basically acting like a rogue entity here 
no transparency whatsoever is really scary what if they're hitting the wrong targets or harming civilians 
can't they just follow the law like everyone else?! 
this is so not cool, i need some answers ASAP!!! 
my thoughts are with all those innocent people who got caught in the middle of this conflict... I mean 14 lives lost and one survivor is a harsh reminder that our actions have consequences 