US Military Carries Out Three Strikes Against Drug-Running Boats Off Colombia, Killing 14
In a dramatic escalation of its operations against drug cartels in the eastern Pacific Ocean, the US military carried out three strikes on Monday, killing at least 14 people and leaving one survivor. The strikes marked the first time multiple attacks were announced in a single day, underscoring the growing intensity of the US campaign against narco-trafficking vessels.
According to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the strikes targeted four boats that were known to be carrying narcotics, which were identified by US intelligence as transiting along established routes used by drug cartels. Two of the boats were seen moving through the water before exploding in a blaze of flames, while the third strike was carried out on two stationary vessels that suddenly erupted into fire.
The latest strikes bring the death toll from 13 disclosed operations since early September to at least 57 people. The US military has rescued two survivors in previous operations, with authorities releasing one Ecuadorian man after prosecutors found no evidence he had committed a crime.
The Trump administration's claims about the boats and their connection to drug cartels have been widely criticized as unsubstantiated, but Hegseth continued to draw parallels between the war on narco-trafficking and the war on terrorism following the 9/11 attacks. He claimed that cartels have killed more Americans than Al-Qaeda and will be treated the same.
The US Coast Guard and Mexican military aircraft were involved in coordinating a rescue effort for the survivor, who is believed to be in the custody of Mexican authorities but whose fate remains uncertain. The latest strikes have sparked widespread concern about the escalating use of force by the US military against civilians in South America, where the cartels are accused of carrying out brutal violence and intimidation campaigns.
Hegseth's announcement comes as the US warship docked in Trinidad and Tobago, which has put pressure on Venezuela and other South American countries to take action against the cartels. The Trump administration's hardline stance on narco-trafficking has been criticized by human rights groups and some lawmakers who argue that it ignores the complexities of the issue and exacerbates regional instability.
The US military's campaign against drug cartels has been marked by controversy, including allegations of civilian casualties and lack of transparency about its operations. The strikes in Colombia have sparked concerns about the impact on civilians and the rule of law in the region, as well as the potential for further escalation and miscalculation.
In a dramatic escalation of its operations against drug cartels in the eastern Pacific Ocean, the US military carried out three strikes on Monday, killing at least 14 people and leaving one survivor. The strikes marked the first time multiple attacks were announced in a single day, underscoring the growing intensity of the US campaign against narco-trafficking vessels.
According to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the strikes targeted four boats that were known to be carrying narcotics, which were identified by US intelligence as transiting along established routes used by drug cartels. Two of the boats were seen moving through the water before exploding in a blaze of flames, while the third strike was carried out on two stationary vessels that suddenly erupted into fire.
The latest strikes bring the death toll from 13 disclosed operations since early September to at least 57 people. The US military has rescued two survivors in previous operations, with authorities releasing one Ecuadorian man after prosecutors found no evidence he had committed a crime.
The Trump administration's claims about the boats and their connection to drug cartels have been widely criticized as unsubstantiated, but Hegseth continued to draw parallels between the war on narco-trafficking and the war on terrorism following the 9/11 attacks. He claimed that cartels have killed more Americans than Al-Qaeda and will be treated the same.
The US Coast Guard and Mexican military aircraft were involved in coordinating a rescue effort for the survivor, who is believed to be in the custody of Mexican authorities but whose fate remains uncertain. The latest strikes have sparked widespread concern about the escalating use of force by the US military against civilians in South America, where the cartels are accused of carrying out brutal violence and intimidation campaigns.
Hegseth's announcement comes as the US warship docked in Trinidad and Tobago, which has put pressure on Venezuela and other South American countries to take action against the cartels. The Trump administration's hardline stance on narco-trafficking has been criticized by human rights groups and some lawmakers who argue that it ignores the complexities of the issue and exacerbates regional instability.
The US military's campaign against drug cartels has been marked by controversy, including allegations of civilian casualties and lack of transparency about its operations. The strikes in Colombia have sparked concerns about the impact on civilians and the rule of law in the region, as well as the potential for further escalation and miscalculation.
Can you believe this? Like a real-life action movie out there! 14 people dead and one survivor... that's some crazy stuff! You'd think they're more worried about the cartels than making headlines, but I guess the US military likes to be in the spotlight. 
Anyway, sounds like these strikes were all about sending a message - "Hey cartel dudes, we're onto you!" 
And now people are worried about civilians getting caught in the crossfire... like, didn't they learn from that whole "war on terrorism" thing? 
I mean, what's the point of having a strong navy if not to take out those nasty boatloads of cartels? The fact that there was only one survivor who's now in custody just shows how effective these strikes have been. And yeah, Hegseth is right on track drawing parallels with the war on terror - cartels are like Al-Qaeda in disguise! 
. like 14 people killed by us military in one day? that's a lotta bodies 
. no sources or vids to back it up, just some dude from defense secy saying "trust me, i know what im talking about" 
. and what's with the comparison to terrorism tho? cartels are bad but lets not forget we're dealing with countries here, not terrorists hiding in caves 
. how many civilians were involved in these 3 strikes? zero? 
. also, what's the criteria for who gets rescued and who doesn't? seems like a whole lotta room for error 
. need more info on this one 
This US operation against drug-running boats off Colombia is getting out of hand 
. 14 people dead? That's a lot of innocent lives lost. I'm worried about the collateral damage, civilians who might get caught in the crossfire 
. It's like they're just going after anyone carrying narcotics, no questions asked 
. Don't even get me started on the claims that cartels are killing more Americans than Al-Qaeda 
Venezuela and other South American countries are already dealing with their own problems, they don't need the US military making things worse 
. I'm all for cracking down on narco-trafficking, but this feels like a heavy-handed approach 
. What's next? Military intervention in other countries' affairs? 
. Like, I get it, narco-trafficking is a big deal, but 14 people dead? That's just crazy 
. And what's with the escalating use of force? We should be trying to help these countries figure out their own solutions, not dropping bombs left and right 
. Innocent people get caught in the crossfire, and it's just not right 
. And have you seen those videos of the US military operations? It looks like a war zone out there 
.
. We need to have some real discussions about how we're handling this whole situation 
.
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. 14 lives lost is way too many, and what about those who are left wondering if they'll ever see their loved ones again? 
It's like the military is playing a game of cat and mouse with cartels, but we're not even sure if it's going to work in the long run 
. We need more transparency, especially when it comes to civilian casualties 
.