US Military Strikes Narco-Trafficking Boats, Cartel Violence Escalates

The hometown of notorious cartel leader 'El Chapo' in northwest Mexico has been hit by drone attacks, forcing dozens of residents to flee. The attacks, which began in September, targeted properties belonging to 'El Chapo's' family and other areas in the region. The governor of Sinaloa state confirmed the use of drones in the attacks and stated that displaced residents were being assisted by the government. The attacks are believed to be linked to cartel violence, with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) having used drones in attacks since 2020. 'El Chapo', the founder of the Sinaloa cartel, is currently serving a life sentence in a US prison.

The Trump administration carried out another strike on an alleged 'narco-trafficking vessel' in the Pacific Ocean, killing four people, as part of its ongoing campaign against drug cartels and gangs in Latin America. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the strike, claiming the boat was operated by a designated terrorist organization. The administration has been conducting these strikes for two months, killing over 60 people, and has vowed to continue, arguing it's part of an 'armed conflict' with these groups. The campaign has drawn criticism from lawmakers and neighboring countries, who question the evidence and warn of potential escalation.

The US military conducted a strike against a vessel in the Pacific Ocean on October 29, 2025, killing four people, according to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The vessel was allegedly involved in illicit narcotics smuggling and was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route. This marks the 14th known US military strike on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel, with a total of 61 people killed aboard 15 boats since early September. The Trump administration has been accelerating its attacks against boats allegedly involved in drug trafficking, with previous strikes targeting vessels in the Caribbean Sea and recent strikes expanding to the eastern Pacific Ocean. Democrats on Capitol Hill have raised concerns about the legality of the strikes, with Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chair Mark Warner criticizing the administration for not briefing Democratic members on the military strikes.

The US military, under the direction of President Donald Trump, conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in the Eastern Pacific, killing four men on board. The strike is the 14th such operation since September, with a total of 61 people killed and three surviving. The Pentagon has faced criticism from lawmakers, including Sen. Rand Paul, over the strikes, citing concerns about due process and the potential for killing innocent people.

The U.S. military has been conducting boat strikes in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since September 2, killing dozens of people suspected of smuggling drugs. Legal specialists have criticized the strikes as illegal extrajudicial killings, as the military is not permitted to target civilians without an imminent threat of violence. The Trump administration has defended the strikes, citing a formal armed conflict with drug cartels and labeling crews of drug-running boats as 'combatants.' The New York Times has been tracking the strikes, with 14 reported incidents resulting in 61 deaths and 3 survivors.

The U.S. military has killed four more people accused of smuggling drugs on boats, bringing the total number of people killed in the Trump administration's campaign to over 60. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the strike, which took place in international waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The administration has been targeting boats suspected of trafficking narcotics, with the latest strike being part of a broader campaign that has raised concerns among lawmakers and experts about its legality and potential expansion to land targets in Venezuela. Republican senators have expressed unease about being left out of the administration's deliberations, and some have signaled openness to backing legislation to require congressional approval for further strikes.