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WASHINGTON — The US Military Drug Strike on Friday destroyed a ship suspected of smuggling narcotics through the Caribbean, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Sunday. American intelligence had tracked the vessel for weeks, linking it to a Colombian terrorist organization deeply involved in drug trafficking.
Hegseth confirmed that all three men aboard the ship died during the operation. No U.S. forces were injured. He described the mission as part of a broader campaign to dismantle transnational cartels threatening American national security.
“This was not a random raid,” Hegseth wrote on X. “These cartels are the Al Qaeda of the Western Hemisphere—using murder and terror to poison our people.”
Part of Expanding U.S. Counter-Narcotics Campaign
Friday’s US Military Drug Strike marked the seventh known assault in recent weeks. The Trump administration has repeatedly authorized operations targeting suspected drug vessels across the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
Moreover, the latest strike followed another mission that CNN reported was the first not to kill everyone aboard. Pentagon officials say this escalation aims to disrupt maritime drug routes and cripple the financial networks of narco-terrorist groups.
According to U.S. intelligence sources, the destroyed vessel carried “substantial amounts of narcotics” headed toward Central America. As a result, Hegseth emphasized that the United States will “hunt and eliminate” criminal organizations that threaten its borders.
Hegseth: ‘We Will Treat Them Like Terrorists’
Hegseth’s remarks illustrate a growing shift under President Trump’s renewed focus on national security through direct military action. Analysts argue that the administration now treats drug cartels as terrorist entities, granting the Pentagon broader authority to act beyond traditional war zones.
“These organizations operate with the same brutality and intent as Al Qaeda,” Hegseth said. “We will pursue them relentlessly.”
Meanwhile, defense officials maintain that aggressive tactics are essential to deter future operations by cartel-linked groups.
Ongoing Operations and Global Reaction
International observers are watching closely as the U.S. expands its military footprint in the region. However, human rights organizations have warned that labeling cartels as terrorists could blur the line between law enforcement and warfare.
In contrast, Pentagon officials insist that decisive military action is vital. “The cartels use violence to destabilize entire nations,” one senior officer said. “We cannot allow them to operate unchecked.”
Although the Pentagon has not revealed the exact location of Friday’s strike, it confirmed that additional operations against suspected vessels are already underway.
