US Strikes on Drug Boats | 14 Killed in Pacific as Mexico, Colombia Condemn Trump Campaign

In a dramatic escalation of its anti-narcotics campaign, the United States military conducted multiple strikes on boats allegedly carrying drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing 14 people and leaving one survivor, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Tuesday.

According to the Pentagon, the coordinated attacks were carried out on four vessels suspected of drug trafficking off the coast of Colombia — marking the deadliest single day since the Trump administration began its controversial maritime offensive two months ago.

The Associated Press reported that it was the first time multiple strikes were publicly confirmed in a single day, signaling an intensification of the US military’s operations across South American waters. Officials say the campaign targets “narco-trafficking routes,” but the move has strained Washington’s relations with regional allies including Mexico and Colombia.

Mexico Criticizes the Strikes

Mexico’s navy confirmed that search and rescue operations were underway about 400 miles southwest of Acapulco, raising doubts about the exact location of the US strike. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the attacks, urging respect for international maritime treaties.

“We do not agree with these attacks,” Sheinbaum said during her daily briefing, confirming she had asked the foreign affairs secretary and navy to meet with the US ambassador in Mexico for clarification.

Pentagon officials said one survivor was spotted clinging to debris and that coordinates were shared with the US Coast Guard and a Mexican military aircraft in the vicinity. It remains unclear whether the survivor has been rescued or is in custody.

Tensions Rise with Colombia

The strikes also heightened tensions with Colombia, whose intelligence support has long been vital to US anti-drug operations. The Trump administration recently imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro and members of his family, accusing them of being complicit in the drug trade—allegations Petro strongly denies.

The White House has not provided verifiable evidence linking the targeted vessels or fatalities to narcotics cartels, raising criticism from international observers and human rights groups.

Escalation in the Pacific and Caribbean

The US military campaign, launched in September 2025, has now claimed at least 57 lives across 13 confirmed strikes, many reportedly off the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia. Washington blames the attacks on the Tren de Aragua gang, a Venezuela-based criminal organization designated as a foreign terrorist group by the US.

Hegseth released aerial footage on social media showing boats laden with parcels before being struck and engulfed in flames. He said the vessels were “known by our intelligence apparatus, transiting along known narco-trafficking routes, and carrying narcotics.”

The Trump administration has deployed an aircraft carrier, eight warships, and thousands of troops to the region, further intensifying speculation that the campaign may be part of a larger political effort to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom Washington accuses of narcoterrorism.

US Justifies Strikes Under ‘War Powers’

President Donald Trump defended the operations, asserting that the US has the “legal authority” to conduct such strikes under the same statutes used during the war on terror. He compared the fight against drug cartels to the battle against Al-Qaeda, claiming that “cartels have killed more Americans than Al-Qaeda, and they will be treated the same.”

However, critics argue the strikes violate international law and could risk drawing the region into broader military conflict, as neighboring countries demand transparency and respect for their territorial waters.

As the Pentagon maintains its silence on the identities of those killed and the evidence of narcotics aboard, global scrutiny mounts over whether this “war on drugs at sea” marks a legitimate security operation or a dangerous precedent in US foreign policy.