On Saturday, the U.S. Southern Command announced via X that the Trump administration conducted another strike against what they identified as a drug-smuggling vessel in the eastern Pacific. The post stated that three individuals aboard were killed. This latest action marks at least the 21st such strike carried out by the military under the Trump administration against suspected drug-running boats, a pattern that has sparked apprehension among some members of Congress. According to the Southern Command, the strike was authorized by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Command's post further asserted that the targeted vessel was "operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization" and was "trafficking narcotics in the Eastern Pacific" when it was engaged in international waters. "Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics,” the post detailed. The announcement follows previous reporting by NBC News, just days earlier, that a 20th strike targeting alleged narco-terrorists had been conducted by the Trump administration in the Caribbean Sea, according to a Pentagon official. Past strikes have occurred in both the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific, resulting in over 75 deaths, according to official sources. Coincidentally, the USS Gerald R. Ford, a significant aircraft carrier, arrived in the Caribbean Sea on the same day as this latest announcement. These strikes have become a source of considerable debate within Congress. Critics, including Democrats and some Republicans, characterize the administration's actions as overly aggressive and an attempt to bypass congressional oversight. However, a resolution requiring Trump to seek Congressional approval for military strikes in the Caribbean Sea was defeated in the Senate in October. A similar resolution aimed at mandating congressional approval for any military intervention against Venezuela was also rejected by the Senate earlier this month. Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky joined Democrats in advocating for a requirement for congressional authorization. Senator Paul, in a previous interview on NBC News’ "Meet the Press," argued that the strikes "go against all of our tradition." He expressed concerns about individuals being killed without the administration offering concrete evidence of criminal activity, raising the possibility that innocent people may have been among the casualties. It should be noted that NBC News has not independently verified the military's account of the strike. Furthermore, the administration has not released any evidence to substantiate its claims regarding the vessel or those on board. A video released by U.S. Southern Command shows a large plume of water erupting near the boat during the strike, followed by the vessel being consumed by flames. *(Contribution by Mosheh Gains, Courtney Kube, and Frank Thorp V)*
