U.S. strikes 2 more alleged drug vessels, this time on the Pacific side, killing 5 people

The U.S. has struck two alleged drug vessels on the Pacific side of Latin America over the last two days, killing five people, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth confirmed Wednesday. 

Today, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War carried out yet another lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO). Yet again, the now-deceased terrorists were engaged in narco-trafficking in the Eastern Pacific.

The… pic.twitter.com/PEaKmakivD

— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) October 23, 2025

The Trump administration has now carried out nine known strikes against alleged narcotics trafficking boats since last month, leading to at least 37 deaths. The first seven strikes were within the Caribbean Sea, according to CBS News.

In two posts on X announcing the strikes Wednesday, Hegseth said the boats were operated by a "Designated Terrorist Organization" and were "transiting along a known narco-trafficking route" in international waters. He said they were "known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling."