U. S. Military Actions in Pacific Raise Questions

The U. S. military has recently conducted two more strikes in the Pacific, targeting boats they claim were involved in drug trafficking. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that six individuals were killed in these strikes, bringing the total number of deaths from such operations to 76. The strikes took place on Sunday in international waters, with each boat allegedly carrying narcotics and manned by three individuals. Hegseth stated that no U. S. forces were harmed in the operations. However, as with previous strikes, the identities of those killed and evidence supporting the claims of drug trafficking or threats to the United States were not provided. Experts have raised concerns about these strikes, suggesting they may amount to extrajudicial killings, even if the targets are known traffickers. Hegseth mentioned that the vessels were operated by "Designated Terrorist Organizations, " but did not specify which groups. The Trump administration has previously declared that the United States is in an "armed conflict" with Latin American drug cartels, labeling them as terrorist groups to justify the strikes. Videos released by the military show one stationary boat and another exploding while in motion, with parcels visible inside the moving vessel. So far, the U. S. has destroyed at least 20 vessels, including 19 boats and one alleged "narco sub. " These strikes coincide with a military buildup in the Caribbean, where six Navy ships, F-35 stealth warplanes, and the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group have been deployed. Critics argue that many of those killed were civilians, primarily fishermen. The U. S. claims its mission is to combat drug trafficking, but Venezuela views the military presence as a threat to oust President Nicolas Maduro, who has accused Trump of seeking to remove him from power. The U. N. rights chief has urged the U. S. to investigate the legality of these strikes, citing strong indications of extrajudicial killings. The U. N. has previously called on the U. S. to cease its campaign, stating that the killings lack justification under international law. Last week, Senate Republicans rejected legislation that would have limited Trump's ability to launch an attack against Venezuela, as Democrats pushed for greater congressional oversight.