The United States military carried out a series of deadly air and sea strikes in the eastern Pacific Ocean, targeting four boats accused of smuggling narcotics. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed on Tuesday that the operation resulted in the deaths of 14 people and left one survivor, marking the deadliest single day since the Trump administration began its controversial anti-drug campaign in South American waters. This was the first instance where multiple strikes were launched and publicly announced in a single day, signaling a sharp escalation in the pace and intensity of U.S. military actions in the region.
According to a senior Pentagon official who spoke under anonymity, the attacks were conducted off the coast of Colombia. However, conflicting reports soon emerged regarding the exact location of the strikes. Following one of the assaults, U.S. forces reportedly spotted a lone survivor clinging to wreckage in the water. The coordinates were relayed to both the U.S. Coast Guard and a Mexican military aircraft operating nearby. Yet, Mexico’s navy later stated that its rescue teams were searching approximately 400 miles southwest of Acapulco, suggesting that the strikes may have taken place much closer to Mexican territory than initially claimed by Washington.
The confusion over jurisdiction has fueled diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and Mexico. Mexican authorities have confirmed that they are continuing their search and rescue efforts, though the fate of the survivor remains uncertain. Defense Secretary Hegseth said Mexican officials had taken charge of the rescue operation but declined to clarify whether the survivor would remain in Mexican custody or be transferred to the United States.
Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, strongly condemned the strikes, calling them a violation of international protocols. During her daily press briefing, she said she had directed both the foreign affairs secretary and the navy to summon the U.S. ambassador for discussions. “We do not agree with these attacks,” Sheinbaum stated firmly, adding that Mexico expected the United States to respect international law and established treaties. The remarks underscored growing unease within the region as U.S. military actions expand under the guise of counter-narcotics operations.
The strikes have also created fresh friction with Colombia, historically one of Washington’s closest allies in Latin America. Colombian intelligence services have long been key partners in U.S. anti-drug operations, but relations have soured after the Trump administration imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his family, and one of his officials, alleging ties to global drug trafficking. Petro has rejected the charges as baseless and politically motivated, accusing Washington of overreach.
Recent footage shared by Hegseth on social media showed two separate boats exploding after being struck by U.S. forces. The video also appeared to capture another pair of vessels anchored side by side before both were engulfed in flames. According to Hegseth, these crafts were operating along known trafficking routes and were identified by U.S. intelligence as carrying narcotics. However, no evidence has yet been released publicly to confirm the nature of the cargo or the identities of those killed.
The ongoing campaign, now in its second month, has been marked by growing fatalities and controversy. At least 57 people have died across 13 documented strikes, according to official figures. The U.S. government has blamed many of these incidents on Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, which Washington has labeled a foreign terrorist organization. The Pentagon recently announced the deployment of an aircraft carrier to join eight existing warships and thousands of troops stationed in the region, heightening speculation that the military buildup may have broader objectives — including pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Maduro has accused the United States of fabricating a pretext for war, calling the campaign an act of aggression under the cover of counter-narcotics enforcement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected that claim, asserting that Venezuela’s government has actively enabled the narcotics trade. In a further show of force, U.S. forces flew two supersonic heavy bombers near Venezuelan airspace, signaling Washington’s readiness to escalate.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly defended the strikes, asserting his “legal authority” to carry out such operations on both sea and land against suspected drug traffickers. Hegseth, echoing Trump’s rhetoric, compared the campaign to the post-9/11 war on terror, declaring that cartels “have killed more Americans than Al-Qaeda, and they will be treated the same.”
The administration maintains that the U.S. is engaged in an “armed conflict” with international drug cartels and has designated these organizations as unlawful combatants under the same legal framework once used to justify military action against terrorist groups. Critics, however, argue that the lack of transparency, rising civilian casualties, and absence of concrete evidence raise serious questions about both the legality and intent behind the ongoing operations in Latin America.
