U.S. Southern Command introduced one other strike this week on a ship allegedly carrying illicit narcotics in a Wednesday night time publish on social media website X.
SOUTHCOM forces launched a strike on a ship within the Jap Pacific, killing all 4 individuals on board. The boat was allegedly operated by members of a delegated terrorist group, SOUTHCOM claimed, with out naming a corporation.
“Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was transiting alongside a recognized narco-trafficking route within the Jap Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” reads the publish.
The latest strike brings the demise toll as much as 99. On Monday, SOUTHCOM additionally carried out strikes within the Jap Pacific, killing eight individuals, USNI Information beforehand reported.
The publish didn’t point out what illicit narcotics the boat was allegedly ferrying. President Donald Trump beforehand stated that the U.S. believes the boats carry fentanyl and that every strike saves 25,000 American lives. Fentanyl, an opioid extra highly effective than heroin, is taken into account to be the first reason for overdoses within the nation, particularly after 2016, in response to knowledge from the Nationwide Institute on Drug Abuse.
Nonetheless, the Trump administration has not supplied proof that the boats do in truth site visitors fentanyl. On Monday, Trump signed an government order classifying fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction.
The vast majority of fentanyl that comes into the U.S. comes by land from Mexico, with provides to provide the illicit narcotic usually coming from China. The medicine that enter the U.S. from Mexico usually come by passenger car, in response to a September 2025 Authorities Accountability Workplace report.
A Dec. 18 GAO report locations the blame for the U.S. drug overdoses deaths on Mexican drug gangs.
“Mexican transnational felony organizations have fueled the U.S. artificial drug disaster, contributing to lots of of hundreds of overdose deaths during the last 5 years, in response to the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. These organizations dictate the move of almost all illicit medicine into the U.S.,” reads the report.
Lawmakers on either side of the aisle have raised questions concerning the legality of the strikes. The Fiscal Yr 2026 Nationwide Protection Authorization Act, which cleared the Senate on Wednesday, requires the Pentagon to show over unedited footage of the strikes.
The Senate’s language within the NDAA additionally features a part on fentanyl, specializing in stopping the move of the illicit narcotic, notably from China and Mexico.
The invoice additionally requires the discharge of “overdue notifications concerning delicate navy operations,” which is probably going a reference to the strikes on the boats. If Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth doesn’t present the data, Congress can withhold 1 / 4 of his journey price range.
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