US Military Expands Anti-Drug Strikes to Pacific, Killing Five in Boat Attacks

The United States military has carried out airstrikes on two boats in the Pacific Ocean, marking an expansion of its controversial campaign against alleged drug traffickers in Latin America. The attacks, announced by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, killed five people and were described as part of Washington’s “war” on transnational narcotics cartels.

According to Hegseth, the strikes occurred late Tuesday and early Wednesday, targeting vessels that U.S. officials claim were smuggling drugs along the Pacific coast of South America. Video footage released by the Pentagon showed a small speedboat carrying brown packages exploding after being hit, then burning and sinking into the sea.

These latest operations follow at least seven similar strikes in the Caribbean region in recent weeks, which have killed more than 30 people. Hegseth said the campaign was necessary to protect Americans from the “narco-terror threat” and compared the cartels’ actions to those of al-Qaida before the 9/11 attacks. “There will be no refuge, no forgiveness — only justice,” he declared.

The expansion of military operations into the Pacific has drawn sharp criticism from Latin American governments. Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro condemned the attack, calling it “murder” and accusing Washington of violating international law. He said unilateral U.S. actions undermine regional sovereignty and could destabilize diplomatic relations.

The U.S. has not released evidence supporting its claims about the targeted boats, nor clarified which country’s territorial waters were involved. Officials said the operations were based on classified intelligence, reportedly provided by the Central Intelligence Agency.

Legal experts have questioned the Biden administration’s justification for treating drug cartels as enemy combatants under the laws of armed conflict — a framework usually reserved for terrorist organizations. Critics argue the move lacks clear legal precedent and risks setting a dangerous standard for extraterritorial use of force.

The Pentagon has defended the campaign as part of a broader strategy to dismantle international drug networks. However, the growing civilian toll and the absence of transparency have intensified calls for accountability. With tensions mounting in the region, the U.S.’s aggressive stance is likely to deepen debate over the militarization of anti-narcotics policy.