US Military Strikes Smuggling Boat In Pacific, Expands Anti-Drug Operations Beyond Caribbean Into Wider Seas

International News: US security forces have carried out a major operation in the Pacific Ocean. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US military launched a deadly attack on a suspected drug smuggling boat in the Pacific Ocean, killing two people on board. The attack is a clear sign of the expanding scope of US military operations, as the US has stepped up such attacks.

This attack is the eighth known attack by US forces on alleged drug smuggling boats since the beginning of September. It is noteworthy that the previous seven attacks were carried out only in the Caribbean Sea, while this is the first time the US has carried out such an attack in the Pacific Ocean.

Defence Minister Hegseth claimed on the social media platform X that the boat was being operated by a terrorist organisation and was carrying drugs.

Drug trafficking compared to 'Al-Qaeda'

The US Secretary of Defense issued a strong statement comparing drug traffickers to the terrorist organization al-Qaeda. He said, "Just as al-Qaeda waged war on our country, these cartels are imposing war on our borders and our people. There will be no sanctuary or amnesty for them, only justice." He also stated that no US troops were injured in the attack.

Legal basis and policy dilemma

A CNN report reveals that the administration has prepared a confidential legal opinion to legalize lethal strikes against cartels and suspected drug traffickers. Experts say the opinion is significant because it treats drug traffickers as insurgent fighters who can be killed without judicial review.

However, this policy is also creating legal dilemmas. Last week, two survivors of the attack were deported to their native countries of Ecuador and Colombia, due to a lack of clarity on the legal authority for their detention.