U. S. Takes Aim at Drug Trafficking in the Pacific

In a recent move, the U. S. military targeted four suspected drug-smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific Ocean. This action resulted in the deaths of 14 individuals, with only one person surviving. The strikes were carried out in three separate operations, all in international waters. The U. S. Defense Secretary revealed that these vessels were known to be transporting drugs along well-known trafficking routes. The first strike took out eight individuals, the second strike eliminated four, and the third strike killed three more. The sole survivor's fate remains uncertain after Mexican authorities took over the rescue coordination. The U. S. president, currently on a trip to Asia, has made it clear that his administration will not seek a formal declaration of war. Instead, he has stated that the focus will be on eliminating those involved in drug trafficking. This comes amid rising tensions with Venezuela, where land strikes are also being considered. Critics, such as Senator Rand Paul, have raised concerns about the legality of these strikes, labeling them as extrajudicial killings. Paul has also pointed out that Congress has not received any information regarding these military actions. The recent strikes bring the total death toll in the U. S. campaign against drug traffickers in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific to over 50. The U. S. military has emphasized that no American forces were harmed in these operations.