Copyright reuters
SummaryUS military buildup in Caribbean to include aircraft carrier, adding to warships and F-35 jetsDemocratic lawmakers question legality of military strikesPentagon silent on drug quantities and identities of those killed WASHINGTON, Oct 28 (Reuters) - A series of U.S. strikes against suspected drug vessels in the eastern Pacific killed 14 alleged drug traffickers and left one survivor, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday, the latest operation in President Donald Trump's counter-drug campaign. The strikes in the Pacific come against the backdrop of a U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean that includes guided-missile destroyers, F-35 fighter jets, a nuclear submarine, and thousands of troops. The administration has ordered the Ford carrier strike group to the region, and it is expected to reach the Caribbean in the coming weeks. Advertisement · Scroll to continue In a social media post, Hegseth said Mexican authorities took over the search-and-rescue operation for the lone survivor from the three strikes, which took place on Monday. "The four vessels were known by our intelligence apparatus, transiting along known narco-trafficking routes, and carrying narcotics," Hegseth said, without providing evidence. ADMINISTRATION SILENT ON DETAILS Hegseth posted a roughly 30-second video, which appeared to show two vessels close together in the water before exploding. Another part of the video showed a vessel moving in the water before exploding. In a statement on X, Mexico's Navy said it received a request from the U.S. Coast Guard and then carried out a rescue operation about 400 miles southwest of Acapulco, adding that an aircraft and a vessel were being used to carry it out. Advertisement · Scroll to continue The strikes followed at least 10 others in the Caribbean and Pacific since early September, in a campaign that has raised U.S. tensions with Venezuela and Colombia. Trump has also authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela. The Pentagon has provided little information about any of the strikes, including the quantity of drugs the boats allegedly carried and the identities of those killed. The strikes have raised alarm among some Democratic lawmakers, who question whether they adhere to the laws of war. Legal experts have questioned why the U.S. military is carrying out the strikes, instead of the Coast Guard, which is the main U.S. maritime law enforcement agency, and why other efforts to halt the shipments were not made before resorting to deadly strikes. Reuters has previously reported that two alleged drug traffickers survived a U.S. military strike in the Caribbean earlier this month. They were rescued and brought to a U.S. Navy warship before being repatriated to Colombia and Ecuador. Ad Break Coming Up NEXT StayNext OffEnglish 180p288p360p480p540p576p720pHD1080pHDAuto (180p) About ConnatixV2125200913 About ConnatixV2125200913 Continue watchingafter the adVisit Advertiser websiteGO TO PAGE Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly alleged that the U.S. is hoping to drive him from power. Washington in August doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50 million, accusing him of links to drug trafficking and criminal groups which Maduro denies. Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart. Additional reporting by Brendan O'Boyle, Editing by Franklin Paul and Rod Nickel Purchase Licensing Rights Idrees AliThomson ReutersNational security correspondent focusing on the Pentagon in Washington D.C. Reports on U.S. military activity and operations throughout the world and the impact that they have. Has reported from over two dozen countries to include Iraq, Afghanistan, and much of the Middle East, Asia and Europe. From Karachi, Pakistan.EmailXInstagramPhil StewartThomson ReutersPhil Stewart has reported from more than 60 countries, including Afghanistan, Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, China and South Sudan. An award-winning Washington-based national security reporter, Phil has appeared on NPR, PBS NewsHour, Fox News and other programs and moderated national security events, including at the Reagan National Defense Forum and the German Marshall Fund. He is a recipient of the Edwin M. Hood Award for Diplomatic Correspondence and the Joe Galloway Award.EmailXLinkedin
