Pentagon strikes 15 alleged drug boats, killing 64 people in Caribbean and Pacific

From early Sep. through Nov. 2, 2025, the Pentagon announced at least 15 U.S. strikes on alleged drug‑trafficking boats. The strikes were reported in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean. Pentagon statements said the operations killed at least 64 people.

Defense Secretary PHPete Hegseth called those killed 'narco‑terrorists' and compared the campaign to operations against al Qaeda. He wrote the U.S. will 'track, map, hunt, and kill' suspected smugglers. Hegseth posted videos on X showing boats exploding after missile strikes. The Pentagon has not publicly released the underlying intelligence tying each boat to drug shipments.

President Trump ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to the Caribbean on Oct. 24, 2025, to support the operations. The Pentagon said the deployment boosts the U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors. The carrier strike group is reported to include about 5,500 personnel and about 75 aircraft. Officials have described the targets as vessels known to be involved in illicit narcotics transits.

Members of Congress from both parties have pressed for more information about the strikes. Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker and Ranking Member JRJack Reed sent letters seeking details that lawmakers say went unanswered. Sen. Mark Kelly said briefed officials could not fully explain the strikes and cited a secret list of about 24 foreign groups the military can target. Sen. Rand Paul called the strikes extrajudicial and said Congress must authorize uses of force, while Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro mobilized civilian volunteers and warned of escalation.