“They Will Not Succeed”: U.S. Launches 15th Deadly Strike on Narco-Terror Vessel as War Secretary Pete Hegseth Declares ‘Full Maritime Offensive’
In a dramatic escalation of America’s war on drug-linked terror at sea, U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Saturday that the military has launched its 15th strike against a narco-terror vessel in the Caribbean. The strike, ordered directly by President Donald Trump, killed three suspected smugglers.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth briefs reporters during a press conference. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images )
“This vessel—like every other—was known by our intelligence to be involved in narcotics smuggling,” Hegseth said on X, underscoring that it was part of a “designated terrorist organization.” He vowed that the U.S. will continue to “track them, map them, hunt them, and kill them.”
Standing before the American flag during a joint press event in Tokyo, Hegseth declared that the operation marks a turning point in the nation’s “maritime offensive” — a campaign aimed at dismantling transnational cartels he says now operate with the same structure and violence as global terror networks.
“These narco-terrorists are bringing drugs to our shores to poison Americans at home — and they will not succeed,” he said firmly, drawing comparisons to America’s previous campaigns against Al Qaeda and ISIS.
Since September, the U.S. has conducted 15 targeted operations across the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific, resulting in at least 64 confirmed enemy deaths, according to defense officials. The White House insists the actions are justified under post-9/11 counterterrorism authorities, though critics in Congress have raised concerns about transparency.
A group of Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, sent letters to Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, demanding clarity on the legal framework behind the strikes and the list of groups deemed targetable under the president’s directive.
Despite growing political pressure, the Trump administration has remained resolute — presenting the strikes as a necessary extension of America’s long war against enemies who threaten its borders and its people.
As Hegseth stood before reporters, his message was unwavering: this is not just about drugs — it’s about defending the homeland.
