In a decisive move late Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the U.S. military had successfully executed a strike on a vessel reportedly involved in drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific. This action resulted in the deaths of three individuals labeled as “narco-terrorists.”

According to Hegseth, the targeted boat was operated by a group classified as a terrorist organization, with its occupants allegedly participating in narcotics smuggling. However, he did not specify which terrorist organization was linked to the operation.

The strike unfolded in international waters, and the operation concluded without any injuries to U.S. service members, as confirmed by the defense secretary.

In a statement shared on the social platform X, Hegseth emphasized the ongoing commitment to these operations. “These strikes will persist daily. These are not just drug traffickers; they are narco-terrorists spreading death and destruction in our cities,” he declared. Comparing these drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) to “Al Qaeda” within the hemisphere, Hegseth vowed relentless pursuit, stating, “We will find them and kill them until the threat to the American people is extinguished.”

Accompanying his statement, Hegseth posted a 26-second video clip capturing the moment of the strike. The footage shows the boat speeding through the water before being struck, quickly becoming engulfed in flames.

This marks the second strike against an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in the Pacific. The first strike was confirmed by Hegseth earlier on Wednesday, saying that the U.S. military struck and killed two  “narco-terrorists.” That strike was conducted late Tuesday and took place in international waters.  

Since the strikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats started in early September, the U.S. military has killed at least 37 people, according to the Trump administration. 

The U.S. military has conducted nine strikes in total as President Trump has turned up the pressure against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who the administration sees as an “illegitimate” leader. 

The administration has bolstered its military presence near Venezuela, deploying warships and Marines, along with other special operations units, as part of its effort to curb the influx of narcotics into the U.S. 

Earlier this month, Trump authorized the CIA to conduct operations in Venezuela and raised the prospect of striking Venezuela on land. 

“We will hit them very hard when they come in by land. And they haven’t experienced that yet, but now we’re totally prepared to do that. We’ll probably go back to Congress and explain exactly what we’re doing when [they] come to the land,” Trump said Wednesday at the White House.