US Strikes Down Five People in Pacific Amid Ongoing War on Drugs
In a major escalation, US military forces have launched two airstrikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of South America, killing five people. The attack marked a significant departure from previous strikes that targeted vessels in the Caribbean, where at least 32 people have been killed.
The latest assault was carried out on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, with the US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, confirming the fatalities. In a brief video released after the strike, Hegseth showed footage of a small boat filled with brown packages, which exploded in flames. The footage sparked outrage as Hegseth drew an unprecedented comparison to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
"Just as al-Qaida waged war on our homeland, these cartels are waging war on our border and our people," Hegseth said in his statement. "There will be no refuge or forgiveness – only justice."
The White House has refused to comment on the reasons behind the expansion of US military operations in the Pacific, despite concerns raised by civil liberties groups and South American countries.
Critics have long argued that the Trump administration's use of lethal force against alleged drug traffickers is a thinly veiled attempt at extrajudicial killings. The administration claims to be targeting "designated terrorist organizations," but experts say this justification is dubious and lacks concrete evidence.
The CIA has been providing the bulk of intelligence used to identify targets for the strikes, sparking concerns about the agency's central role in the operation. White House officials have attempted to justify the increasing number of strikes by claiming that President Trump has exercised his Article Two powers, but legal experts argue that this justification is weak and lacks foundation.
The administration has designated several cartels as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs), including Tren de Aragua, which has been linked to President Nicolás Maduro's regime in Venezuela. However, the White House has yet to provide concrete evidence of the cartel's ties to the Venezuelan government, leaving it unclear whether the strikes are lawful.
The escalation comes as tensions between the US and Venezuela continue to escalate, with reports emerging of a "predatory incursion" by foreign nationals using the cartels as a cover. However, experts say this claim lacks merit and that the White House's actions may be driven more by domestic politics than a genuine concern for regional security.
As concerns grow about the Trump administration's war on drugs, critics are calling for greater transparency and accountability in its operations. The latest strikes in the Pacific have raised questions about the limits of executive power and the need for due process in the pursuit of justice.
In a major escalation, US military forces have launched two airstrikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of South America, killing five people. The attack marked a significant departure from previous strikes that targeted vessels in the Caribbean, where at least 32 people have been killed.
The latest assault was carried out on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, with the US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, confirming the fatalities. In a brief video released after the strike, Hegseth showed footage of a small boat filled with brown packages, which exploded in flames. The footage sparked outrage as Hegseth drew an unprecedented comparison to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
"Just as al-Qaida waged war on our homeland, these cartels are waging war on our border and our people," Hegseth said in his statement. "There will be no refuge or forgiveness – only justice."
The White House has refused to comment on the reasons behind the expansion of US military operations in the Pacific, despite concerns raised by civil liberties groups and South American countries.
Critics have long argued that the Trump administration's use of lethal force against alleged drug traffickers is a thinly veiled attempt at extrajudicial killings. The administration claims to be targeting "designated terrorist organizations," but experts say this justification is dubious and lacks concrete evidence.
The CIA has been providing the bulk of intelligence used to identify targets for the strikes, sparking concerns about the agency's central role in the operation. White House officials have attempted to justify the increasing number of strikes by claiming that President Trump has exercised his Article Two powers, but legal experts argue that this justification is weak and lacks foundation.
The administration has designated several cartels as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs), including Tren de Aragua, which has been linked to President Nicolás Maduro's regime in Venezuela. However, the White House has yet to provide concrete evidence of the cartel's ties to the Venezuelan government, leaving it unclear whether the strikes are lawful.
The escalation comes as tensions between the US and Venezuela continue to escalate, with reports emerging of a "predatory incursion" by foreign nationals using the cartels as a cover. However, experts say this claim lacks merit and that the White House's actions may be driven more by domestic politics than a genuine concern for regional security.
As concerns grow about the Trump administration's war on drugs, critics are calling for greater transparency and accountability in its operations. The latest strikes in the Pacific have raised questions about the limits of executive power and the need for due process in the pursuit of justice.
. So, they're saying that these US airstrikes killed 5 people and now they're making a big deal about how it's like the 9/11 attacks? I don't get it... isn't it just about some bad guys selling drugs in the ocean? 
So US just drops five people in Pacific and nobody's surprised? Like, what else do we expect from a country that thinks 9/11 is a valid comparison to busting some cartel boats 
. And yeah, let's get real, this is all about Trump flexing his executive muscles and looking tough on crime 
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Newsflash: just because you're dropping bombs doesn't make it legit 
. And don't even get me started on the CIA being the driving force behind this op - like, isn't that just a fancy way of saying "we have no idea what we're doing" 
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. But let's not forget, folks: this is a human cost we're talking about - innocent people losing their lives just because of some sketchy cartel stuff 
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!!!5 ppl killed in airstrike & Hegseth drawn a 9/11 comparison? that's some wild stuff lol. i feel bad for the families but like, isnt this just an escalation of the war on drugs? didnt we learn from trump era that its all about politics? 
. gotta keep an eye on this one ppl 
i mean, what's next? using drones to kill people on american soil? 
this whole thing is super suspicious and it feels like trump is just trying to get re-elected rather than actually solving the problem of drugs being smuggled across the border 
the fact that they're not even providing concrete evidence for these strikes is wild and it's only gonna lead to more problems in the long run 
