US conducted 'lethal kinetic strikes' on vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organisations trafficking narcotics

On Tuesday (Oct 28), Pete Hegseth, US Secretary of War, said that the country carried out "three lethal kinetic strikes on four vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organisations (DTO) trafficking narcotics in the Eastern Pacific." This he mentioned, was as per US President Donald Trump's directives. There were eight "narco-terrorists" abroad at the time of the first strike, Hegseth informed. US intelligence has information on the four vessels that were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and carrying narcotics.

Hegseth cotinued, “Eight male narco-terrorists were aboard the vessels during the first strike. Four male narco-terrorists were aboard the vessel during the second strike. Three male narco-terrorists were aboard the vessel during the third strike. A total of 14 narco-terrorists were killed during the three strikes, with one survivor.”

Further added, “All strikes were in international waters with no US forces harmed. Regarding the survivor, USSOUTHCOM immediately initiated Search and Rescue (SAR) standard protocols; Mexican SAR authorities accepted the case and assumed responsibility for coordinating the rescue. The Department has spent over TWO DECADES defending other homelands. Now, we’re defending our own. These narco-terrorists have killed more Americans than Al-Qaeda, and they will be treated the same. We will track them, we will network them, and then, we will hunt and kill them.”

This isn't the first such strike by the US, the War Secretary has underscored these for couple of days now and as directed by the president. Hegseth noted that these vessels have been intending to to bring poison to American shores. He also mentioned, “Just as Al Qaeda waged war on our homeland, these cartels are waging war on our border and our people. There will be no refuge or forgiveness—only justice.”