US Military Strikes Suspected Drug-Trafficking Vessel, Killing All Aboard

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO) in international waters in the eastern Pacific, killing all three people aboard. The U.S. military has been targeting vessels accused of narco-trafficking, with a total death toll of at least 37, including the latest two strikes in the eastern Pacific. Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the strike as "murder" and called for the US to halt the attacks.

Key Takeaways:

• The US military has struck a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in international waters in the eastern Pacific, killing all three people aboard.
• The vessel was operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO) and was accused of carrying narcotics along a known narco-trafficking transit route.
• US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused the vessel of engaging in narco-trafficking and vowed to continue strikes against such targets until the threat to the American people is extinguished.
• The total death toll from such operations has risen to at least 37, including the latest two strikes in the eastern Pacific.
• Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the strike as "murder" and called for the US to halt the attacks.
• The U.S. military previously carried out seven such operations in the Caribbean Sea, mainly against boats accused of trafficking drugs from Venezuela to the United States.
• The US has been targeting vessels accused of narco-trafficking in the eastern Pacific, with the latest strike reportedly near Colombia's Pacific coast.

Statistics:

• At least 37 people have been killed in US military strikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
• The US has carried out at least 9 operations against suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, with 19 strikes in the Caribbean and 3 strikes in the eastern Pacific.
• The US military has accused the vessels of carrying narcotics along known narco-trafficking transit routes.
• The US has vowed to continue strikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels until the threat to the American people is extinguished.

Sources:

• Xinhua via COMTEX (October 23, 2025)
• Official statement from US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on social media platform X (October 23, 2025)
• Official statement from Colombian President Gustavo Petro on social media platform X (October 23, 2025)
• COMTEX_469733637/2084/2025-10-23T03:55:45
• Copyright 2025 XINHUA NEWS AGENCY