The U.S. military strike on the suspected drug smuggling boats occurred on Sunday, according to Hegseth.
“These vessels were known by our intelligence to be associated with illicit narcotics smuggling, were carrying narcotics, and were transiting along a known narco-trafficking transit route in the Eastern Pacific,” Hegseth wrote on X on Monday.
However, the Department of Defense has not yet released any concrete evidence to the public that would suggest the targets of this most recent set of strikes were drug traffickers. The Department of Defense has not returned a request for comment.
“Under President Trump, we are protecting the homeland and killing these cartel terrorists who wish to harm our country and its people,” Hegseth said.
A Congressional briefing last week revealed that the U.S. military doesn’t necessarily know who is aboard the vessels when they conduct strikes, but base the strikes on intelligence that the boats are linked to a particular drug cartel.
Since September, the U.S. military has conducted 19 strikes, destroying 20 boats and killing 76 people.
The ongoing strikes are a part of President Donald Trump’s ongoing agenda to drastic reduce the illicit drug supply flowing into the United States. These strikes have rendered sharp criticism from Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro, who views both the strikes and the United States’ increasing military presence in the Caribbeanm as a threat and attempt to throw him out of office.
The United Nations has also requestedrump end U.S. strikes in the Caribbean, with UN High Commissioner Volker Turk saying during Trump’s recent “60 Minutes” interview that there is “no justification in international law” for the strikes.
Senate Republicans last week voted down legislation that would have put a check on Trump’s ability to use deadly military force against drug cartels. Senate Democrats and some Republicans have condemned the strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and have said they are not receiving enough information from the White House.
“Congress must not allow the executive branch to become judge, jury and executioner,” Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and frequent Trump critic, said in a floor speech before he voted in favor of the measure.
Have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Elaine at emallon@sbgtv.com and follow her on X at @MallonElaine. Content from The National Desk is provided by Sinclair, the parent company of FOX45 News.