U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday that the American military conducted another operation targeting a boat suspected of carrying drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the fatalities of all four individuals on board. This action followed three similar strikes carried out by the U.S. in the same area the previous day, resulting in the deaths of 14 individuals as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts against drug cartels operating in the waters near South America.

Hegseth, currently on a trip to Japan and Malaysia, stated on social media that intelligence information indicated the vessel was traveling along a known drug trafficking route and transporting narcotics. The strike was executed in international waters with no harm to U.S. personnel. A video shared by Hegseth captured the boat erupting in flames and smoke.

The Trump administration has been conducting a concentrated campaign in the region for nearly two months, deploying a significant number of warships carrying marines and aircraft. Speculation has arisen about the intention of these movements, with suggestions that they may be aimed at removing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, accused by the U.S. of involvement in narcoterrorism.

Concerns have been raised by experts regarding the legality of these strikes, which have resulted in the deaths of at least 61 individuals. President Donald Trump has defended the boat attacks as necessary measures to curb the influx of drugs into the United States, citing an “armed conflict” with drug cartels under legal authority similar to that used by the Bush administration following the 9/11 attacks.

As the frequency of these strikes has increased, a debate has intensified in Congress regarding the extent of the president’s authority in such matters. Some lawmakers, including members of Trump’s own party, have questioned the lack of concrete evidence supporting the killings, as the operations have been carried out without formal legal investigations or declarations of war.

The Trump administration has not provided substantiated evidence to back its assertions regarding the targeted boats, their alleged ties to drug cartels, or the identities of those killed in the strikes. The recent strike disclosed by Hegseth marks the 14th operation conducted since the campaign’s inception.