US strikes on suspected drug boats kill 14 in Pacific waters, Defense Secretary says

A series of strikes carried out by the US military on boats in the Eastern Pacific Ocean killed 14 people and left one survivor Pete Hegseth said drug dealers.

In a post on X, Hegseth said Mexican authorities have taken on the task of saving and rescuing one survivor from the three strikes, which took place on Monday.

“The four vessels were known to our technical equipment, they were transferring to known Norco-trafficking routes, and they were carrying narcotics,” said Hegsseth, without providing evidence.

Hegseth posted about 30 videos, which appear to show two ships near the water before the explosion. Another part of the video shows a ship on the water, exploding.

After a series of strikes in the Caribbean earlier on September 2, the US government announced for the first time last week that its deadly operations had reached its waters.

Experts also question the authenticity of the strikes, which killed at least 57 people. There was no indication that other efforts were made to stop the shipment, and under normal circumstances, the US Coast Guard is involved in drug concerns.

US Builds Military in the Caribbean

On his first day in office earlier this year, Trump signed an executive order designating the drug cartel as a foreign terrorist organization.

On Tuesday, Hegseth said that “these narco-terrorists have killed more Americans than al-Qaeda,” drawing a comparison between the violent attacks and the often consensual drug trade.

The strikes in the Pacific are against the backdrop of a US military build-up in the Caribbean that includes the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, grounded Forter Jets, nuclear forces and nearly 6,500 troops.

Last week, the US military flew large-scale bombers off the coast of Venezuela, raising speculation that Trump could try to topple Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The Trump administration has increased the reward for Maduro’s capture to $50 Million US and it is suspected that the Tren de Aragua Gang is working under the auspices of Maduro’s government.

When the administration publicly distributed videos of the strikes and said targets of suspected drug traffickers, there was a lack of information on the the occupants of the boats, or the particular cargo that was on the boat.

It is also unclear whether any of the contraband on the boats was destined for the United States. According to experts in international drug traffic, Trinidad and Tobago, near the Venezuelan coast, is often a transit point for packages destined for Europe or West Africa.

The US has been plagued by tens of thousands of drug-related deaths in the past decade, although the numbers will fall by 2024 from the previous year. Most of the deaths have involved the use of opioids, or in some cases, cocaine has been mixed with Fentanyl.

Venezuela’s neighbors Colombia and Bolivia produce coca plants, which are used to produce cocaine.

The Republican admits he would be ‘Apoplectic’ if the tables were turned

Members of the US Congress, including some Republicans, have expressed concern about the lack of information and transparency from the administration regarding the strikes.

“If this was going on at this level of understanding under the [Joe] A Biden administration, I would be apoplectic,” Republican Sen. James Lankford, of Oklahoma, admitted last week in a C-SPAN interview.

Anyway, tThe Republican-controlled senate voted down a Democratic-sponsored war resolution that would have required the President to seek authorization from Congress before further military strikes.

Asked last week whether he would ask Congress to issue a declaration of war, Trump balked at the idea.

“I think we’re going to kill people who bring drugs into our country, okay? We’re going to kill you, you know,” Trump said, “Trump said,” Trump said. “

Venezuela on Sunday condemned what it said was military provocation by neighboring Trinidad and Tobago. Joint military exercises between the US and Trinidad and Tobago are currently underway.

On Monday, Venezuela said it was suspending energy deals with Trinidad and Tobago.

“The prime minister of Trinidad has decided to join the united agenda of the United States war, said the President of Venezuela Delcy Rodrííz of Velcy Rodrííz.

Around the world, in addition to Venezuela, the leaders of Brazil, Colombia and Mexico have criticized the boat.

Citizens of Colombia and Trinidad and citizens of Tobago said family members were killed in the strikes. They denied that their family members were involved in the drug trade.

Actions amount to ‘External Killing’: UN experts

United Nations experts said last week in a statement that the strikes are “a very serious threat that has a far-reaching impact on peace and security in the Caribbean region.”

They accepted Trump’s reason for military action, but said: “Even if such allegations are focused, the use of lethal force in international waters without the execution of the relevant law.”

Independent experts, appointed by the Human Rights Council, say that the attackers are violating the sovereignty of Venezuela and the United States “” not to intervene in domestic affairs or to threaten to use armed force against another country.

Currently, the former president of the Philippines Rodrigo Duster is facing an international court for admitting the excessive killing of drug dealers and traffickers while in office, and when he served as Mayor of Davao City.

While the US does not recognize the power of the ICC, Mark Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly said last week in an interview with MSNBC that he was concerned about those who helped carry out the questionable orders. The statute of limitations can be simplified for years to find certain crimes in the US by the administration of the American military, and for serious crimes, they do not work at all.

Kelly also wondered, given the circumstances, why we namvy adm. Alvin Holsey decided to retire at the end of the year, two years ahead of schedule. The four-star admiral is the head of US Command, which oversees operations in Central and South America.

Holsey has not spoken publicly.

Despite expressing the opinion that those on the boats suspected of containing drugs are enemies, the survivors passed the two previous survivors of their countries – Colombia and Ecuador – instead of holding.