US Military Conducts 21st Strike on Alleged Drug Boat in Eastern Pacific
The US military has carried out its 21st strike on an alleged drug boat in the eastern Pacific, killing three people, according to a post from the US Southern Command on Sunday.
The latest strike is the latest in a series of attacks by the Trump administration aimed at combating narcotics smuggling in the region. The US Southern Command claimed that the strike took place in international waters and was authorized by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
According to the military's account, the vessel was operated by a designated terrorist organization and was carrying narcotics along a known narco-trafficking route. However, NBC News has not independently confirmed this information, and there is no evidence provided by the administration to support its claims.
The strike comes days after it was reported that the Trump administration carried out its 20th such attack in the Caribbean Sea. Since then, over 75 people have been killed in US military strikes aimed at combating narcotics smuggling.
The attacks have sparked controversy in Congress, with some lawmakers accusing the administration of overreach and circumventing legislative authority. However, a Senate resolution requiring congressional approval for these strikes was rejected earlier this year.
Video released by the US Southern Command appears to show the strike causing a large wave to spike up next to the boat, which is then engulfed in flames.
The announcement comes as the USS Gerald R Ford, a major aircraft carrier, has arrived in the Caribbean. The strike also raises concerns about the potential for civilian casualties and the lack of transparency from the administration on these issues.
Senator Rand Paul had previously expressed his concerns about the strikes, stating that they "go against all of our tradition" and raise questions about the administration's use of force without providing evidence of a crime.
The US military has carried out its 21st strike on an alleged drug boat in the eastern Pacific, killing three people, according to a post from the US Southern Command on Sunday.
The latest strike is the latest in a series of attacks by the Trump administration aimed at combating narcotics smuggling in the region. The US Southern Command claimed that the strike took place in international waters and was authorized by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
According to the military's account, the vessel was operated by a designated terrorist organization and was carrying narcotics along a known narco-trafficking route. However, NBC News has not independently confirmed this information, and there is no evidence provided by the administration to support its claims.
The strike comes days after it was reported that the Trump administration carried out its 20th such attack in the Caribbean Sea. Since then, over 75 people have been killed in US military strikes aimed at combating narcotics smuggling.
The attacks have sparked controversy in Congress, with some lawmakers accusing the administration of overreach and circumventing legislative authority. However, a Senate resolution requiring congressional approval for these strikes was rejected earlier this year.
Video released by the US Southern Command appears to show the strike causing a large wave to spike up next to the boat, which is then engulfed in flames.
The announcement comes as the USS Gerald R Ford, a major aircraft carrier, has arrived in the Caribbean. The strike also raises concerns about the potential for civilian casualties and the lack of transparency from the administration on these issues.
Senator Rand Paul had previously expressed his concerns about the strikes, stating that they "go against all of our tradition" and raise questions about the administration's use of force without providing evidence of a crime.
... but let's look on the bright side 
! The fact that they're actually doing something to combat narcotics smuggling in the region is def a plus 
! And think about it, if they can prevent people from getting hurt by these drug boats, that's like, a win-win for everyone 
. I know some ppl are worried about civilian casualties and all that, but let's not forget that the ppl on those boats are probably involved in some shady stuff too 
... still, it's good that they're being transparent (ish) about what's going down 
. And hey, at least we've got a Senate rep like Rand Paul looking out for us and raising questions about this whole thing 
!
. Killing three people for alleged narcotics trafficking? Not cool 
. When will we get some real answers on this? 
I gotta say, 21st strike in one year is wild 
. Like what's next? Is this how we're gonna keep our oceans safe from narcotics smuggling or what? 
But for real though, it's concerning that there's no evidence to back up these claims... like where's the proof? 
. Can't we just have an open conversation about this instead of resorting to military action? 
And what's with the lack of transparency from the administration? We need more answers, not less 
... US military is basically taking matters into their own hands, no transparency whatsoever 
I don't get why we're always attacking these "terrorist" boats in international waters? Can't we just try to stop the smuggling by working with other countries or something? 
Also, what's going on with this aircraft carrier showing up in the Caribbean? Just more military presence if you ask me. 
Can't we just try to solve our problems with diplomacy instead of guns? 
The lack of transparency from the administration is getting old... we need more info, not just a video clip. 
And don't even get me started on the whole "war on drugs" thing - what's next? Targeting every single fisherman in the Pacific for alleged narco-trafficking? 
It feels like we're just playing a game of naval Whac-A-Mole, where everyone gets caught in the crossfire except those with the most power. 
