Washington — The U.S. navy on Monday struck 4 extra vessels that had been allegedly trafficking narcotics within the japanese Pacific Ocean, killing 14 and leaving one survivor, Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth introduced on X.
The 4 vessels had been hit in three totally different strikes, Hegseth stated. The strikes carry the full loss of life toll in President Trump’s marketing campaign in opposition to alleged traffickers within the Caribbean and the japanese Pacific to greater than 50.
“The 4 vessels had been recognized by our intelligence equipment, transiting alongside recognized narco-trafficking routes, and carrying narcotics,” Hegseth wrote. “Eight male narco-terrorists had been aboard the vessels in the course of the first strike. 4 male narco-terrorists had been aboard the vessel in the course of the second strike. Three male narco-terrorists had been aboard the vessel in the course of the third strike. A complete of 14 narco-terrorists had been killed in the course of the three strikes, with one survivor. All strikes had been in worldwide waters with no U.S. forces harmed.”
He added: “These narco-terrorists have killed extra People than Al-Qaeda, and they are going to be handled the identical. We’ll observe them, we’ll community them, after which, we’ll hunt and kill them.”
Hegseth stated U.S. navy personnel instantly started search and rescue operations for the survivor, and Mexican authorities assumed accountability for coordinating the rescue. It isn’t clear what occurred to the survivor from there.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed at a Tuesday morning information convention that the strike was in worldwide waters and the Mexican Navy rescued one individual.
In a assertion, the Mexican Navy confirmed it was “conducting a maritime search and rescue operation 400 miles southwest of Acapulco” on the request of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Mr. Trump, presently on a multiday journey in Asia, has stated his administration will present details about the strikes to Congress, however he will not search a declaration of conflict.
“I feel we’re simply going to kill individuals which can be bringing medicine into our nation. OK? We will kill them. You already know? They’ll be like, lifeless,” he stated final week.
Mr. Trump additionally stated land strikes in Venezuela might come subsequent, amid heightened tensions between the 2 nations.
Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, has known as the navy airstrikes on the boats “extrajudicial killings.” Paul informed “Fox Information Sunday” this week that Congress has obtained “no data” on the strike marketing campaign from the administration.
