The Trump administration carried out three lethal kinetic strikes against four vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations (DTOs) that traffic narcotics in the Eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of 14 suspected drug traffickers and one survivor, Secretary of War Peter Hegseth announced.
The United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) immediately initiated standard Search and Rescue (SAR) protocols for the sole survivor, and “Mexican SAR authorities accepted the case and assumed responsibility for coordinating the rescue,” he stated.
Hegseth noted that intelligence services were aware of the four vessels, which were transiting known drug trafficking routes and transporting narcotics.
“Eight male narcoterrorists were on board the vessels during the first attack. Four male narcoterrorists were on board during the second attack. Three male narcoterrorists were on board during the third attack,” he added.
