US Conducts Eighth Strike on Alleged Drug Vessel, Killing Two in Pacific

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN DE MODE

Article Published on: 23RD OCT 2025 | www.demodemagazine.com

The US military carried out its eighth strike against an alleged drug vessel on Tuesday night in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday. The previous seven strikes targeted vessels in the Caribbean, bringing the total death toll from all operations to at least 34. Hegseth shared a brief video showing a small boat loaded with brown packages before it exploded into flames.

In a social media post, he controversially compared the alleged drug traffickers to those behind the September 11, 2001, attacks. President Donald Trump defended the ongoing strikes, stating that the United States is engaged in an armed conflict with drug cartels. He added that his administration is operating under the same legal authority invoked by President George W. Bush during the war on terrorism declared after the 9/11 attacks.