Secretary of War Pete Hegseth revealed this week that the United States had executed a series of strikes against four vessels suspected of transporting narcotics in the Eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of 14 individuals labeled as ‘narco-terrorists’ by U.S. authorities. These operations, according to Hegseth, were authorized by President Donald Trump, who designated these groups as ‘Designated Terrorist Organizations (DTO)’ engaged in narcotics trafficking. Hegseth emphasized that all strikes occurred in international waters, and the U.S. forces sustained no casualties during the operations.
During the strikes, Hegset, noted that eight male suspects were on board the first vessel, four on the second, and three on the third, with the fourth strike reportedly yielding a survivor. The survivor was immediately handed over to Mexican SAR authorities, who assumed responsibility for coordinating the search and rescue mission. Hegseth described the operations as part of a broader campaign to combat narco-terrorism, highlighting the Department of War’s role in protecting U.S. interests both domestically and abroad.
Further context was provided by recent actions, including a strike conducted in the Caribbean Sea targeting Tren de Aragua (TdA), a DTO operating in the region. This operation, which took place on the night of September 2, reportedly killed six narco-terrorists and marked the first nighttime strike in the region. Officials indicated that these actions are part of a larger effort to disrupt drug trafficking networks, with the Department of War having executed the strikes since early September.
Hegseth framed the operations as a critical step in the U.S. strategy to combat narco-terrorism, drawing parallels between these groups and other terrorist entities such as Al-Qaeda. He stated that these groups have killed more Americans than Al-Qaeda, underscoring the perceived severity of the threat and the necessity of a robust military response. The Department of War, under Trump’s directive, has been actively deploying its assets to address the growing security concerns posed by drug-related criminal organizations in the Western Hemisphere.
The broader implications of this military campaign have been underscored by the Department’s continued presence in the region, including the deployment of the Ford Carrier Strike Group, which has been assigned to the Western Hemisphere to combat narco-terrorism. This deployment reflects the administration’s commitment to addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by drug trafficking and its associated criminal activities. Hegseth’s statements align with a corporatist political stance, emphasizing the role of the state in ensuring national security through a combination of military and economic strategies.