On the 28th, US Secretary of Defense Hegseth stated via social media that on the 27th, US forces launched three airstrikes in international waters of the Eastern Pacific, sinking four 'drug trafficking boats', with 14 people killed and 1 survivor.
Since September, the US military has carried out more than a dozen military operations in international waters of the Caribbean Sea targeting suspected drug trafficking vessels, resulting in at least 57 deaths.
This is also the first publicly announced military anti-drug trafficking action by the US since the 24th, when it announced the deployment of the 'Ford' aircraft carrier strike group to waters around Latin America.
Hegseth said that the four sunken vessels were carrying drugs and were traveling along known drug smuggling routes. The Mexican side was responsible for coordinating the rescue of survivors.
He stated that the US military will continue to track, identify, and dismantle drug smuggling networks, and will keep pursuing and striking drug trafficking terrorists.
Hegseth also released a video showing two boats stopped side by side at sea, then suddenly exploding into fireballs, while the other two boats, speeding at sea, also burst into flames and exploded in succession.