US Military Strikes Three Boats in Eastern Pacific, Killing Eight

The US military said Monday that it carried out strikes on three boats accused of drug smuggling in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in eight deaths. The announcement comes as Congress intensifies scrutiny of the ongoing boat strike campaign.

According to a statement posted on social media, the strikes targeted “designated terrorist organisations,” killing three people on the first boat, two on the second, and three on the third. The military did not provide independent evidence of drug trafficking but shared a video showing a boat moving through the water before exploding.

President Donald Trump defended the attacks as a necessary measure to curb the flow of drugs into the United States and described the operation as part of an “armed conflict” with drug cartels.

Lawmakers, however, are raising concerns over the military campaign, which has reportedly killed at least 95 people in 25 known strikes since early September. This includes a follow-up strike that killed two survivors clinging to the wreckage of a previously struck boat.

The latest strikes precede briefings on Capitol Hill for members of Congress, where top national security officials, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are expected to provide details in closed-door sessions.

The campaign has also intensified pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who faces narcoterrorism charges in the US. Last week, US forces seized a sanctioned oil tanker alleged to be carrying illicit crude. Maduro has denied these claims, asserting that the operations are aimed at ousting him from office.

The US military has significantly increased its presence in the region, launching a series of strikes in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. Trump has indicated that land-based operations are planned, though he has not provided specifics on locations.