The USA has performed its seventeenth deadly strike in opposition to a suspected drug vessel, killing all three on board, Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth introduced on X in a single day.
The strike came about in worldwide waters within the Caribbean on Thursday, Hegseth stated.
“As we’ve stated earlier than, vessel strikes on narco-terrorists will proceed till their the poisoning of the American folks stops,” stated Hegseth in his social media submit. “The vessel was trafficking narcotics within the Caribbean and was struck in worldwide waters. No U.S. forces had been harmed within the strike, and three male narco-terrorists — who had been aboard the vessel — had been killed.”
Not less than 69 folks have now been killed in strikes on vessels since Sept. 2.
Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth speaks to senior navy leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico, in Quantico, Virginia, September 30, 2025.
Andrew Harnik/Reuters
On Sunday, Trump’s administration offered greater than a dozen Senate Republicans a secret goal listing for its ongoing navy marketing campaign within the Caribbean Sea, suggesting it’s making ready for sustained operations in opposition to drug cartels and that it believed the navy strikes might stand up to potential authorized challenges.
“To all narco-terrorists who threaten our homeland: if you wish to keep alive, cease trafficking medication. When you hold trafficking lethal medication — we’ll kill you,” stated Hegseth.
