US Expands Military Strikes on Narco-Speedboats in Pacific, Focusing on Colombia
The United States military has escalated its campaign against drug trafficking, with a recent spate of attacks on narco-speedboats in the Pacific. The latest strikes have resulted in the deaths of a total of eight narco-terrorists, according to the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). This ongoing campaign has been increasingly directed towards Colombia, a country with a long Pacific coastline reportedly riddled with drug trafficking routes for cocaine.
Background and Context
This recent escalation follows a series of lethal strikes against vessels in the Pacific suspected of ferrying drugs. The Trump administration has been enforcing a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, and these naval strikes appear to be an extension of this blockade.
Recent Developments
According to the Pentagon, a Joint Task Force Southern Spear team struck a narco-terrorist vessel on Wednesday, killing four militants without any U.S. casualties. The operation was initiated at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth after intelligence confirmed the vessel’s mission. The strike occurred in international waters along a known narco-trafficking route in the Eastern Pacific.
Earlier on Monday, SOUTHCOM reported that the United States carried out lethal strikes on three vessels operated by designated terrorist organizations, killing a total of eight narco-terrorists. Intelligence reportedly detected suspicious activity along the Eastern Pacific, where the vessels were traveling along known narco-trafficking routes.
Reactions and Implications
These strikes have sparked debate in the U.S. House of Representatives, which recently rejected efforts to limit President Donald Trump’s powers to use military force against drug cartels. The strikes have also intensified scrutiny over this strategy among Congress members.
Conclusion
The recent US military actions represent a significant escalation in the campaign against drug trafficking via the Pacific Ocean. The focus on Colombia, a country with a significant stretch of coastline on the Pacific Ocean and a known hotspot for drug trafficking, indicates an increased determination to disrupt these illicit activities. The US military has confirmed the deaths of 12 individuals in these recent strikes, bringing the total number killed in such operations to at least 99 since the Trump administration began this initiative.