WASHINGTON – The U.S. military carried out another strike on a suspected drug ship in the Eastern Pacific on Saturday, killing three people, according to a report. Sunday message for X from US Southern Command.
Last strike at least on the 21st that the military conducted on suspected drug ships during the second Trump administration, prompting concerns of some legislators.
The US Southern Command said in a statement that the strike was carried out at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The report claimed that the ship was “operated by a designated terrorist organization” and was “transporting drugs in the Eastern Pacific,” adding that the strike took place in international waters.
“Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was engaged in illegal drug smuggling, was transiting a known drug trafficking route and was transporting drugs,” the statement said.
NBC News has not independently confirmed the military's account of the strike. The administration did not provide evidence to support its claims about the ship and the people on board.
Video released by US Southern Command shows the impact causing a large wave to rise near the boat, which then became engulfed in flames.
The announcement appeared a few days later NBC News previously reported this. According to a Pentagon spokesman, the Trump administration carried out the 20th such attack. This strike occurred in the Caribbean Sea. Previous attacks occurred in both the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific and killed more than 75 people, officials said.
Sunday's announcement came on the same day that the massive aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford arrived in the Caribbean.
The walkouts have sparked controversy in Congress as Democrats and some Republicans describe the administration's actions as a heavy-handed abuse of power to bypass lawmakers.
But in October the Senate rejected the resolution Trump's requirement to obtain congressional approval for military strikes in the Caribbean. Earlier this month, the Senate rejected a similar resolution that would have required the president to seek congressional approval for any military action against Venezuela.
Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky sided with the Democrats insist on the need for congressional authorization.
Paul previously said in an October interview on NBC News' “Meet the Press” that the strikes are “contrary to all our traditions.” He expressed concern about the loss of life without administration providing evidence of the crime, noting the possibility that some of those killed may have been innocent.
