Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

US kills 14 in strikes on four alleged drug boats in Pacific
BBC ^ | 10/28/2025 | Bernd Debusmann Jr

Posted on 10/28/2025 1:54:07 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

US Department of Defense Boat on fire after being hit by US forces in the Pacific.

US Department of Defense

One person survived the strikes and was rescued by Mexican search-and-rescue teams.

US forces have killed 14 people in strikes on four alleged drug boats in the Pacific, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said.

Mexico's navy says it is still searching for a lone survivor approximately 400 miles (643km) from the Pacific coastal city of Acapulco.

It is the latest in a series of attacks on boats the US says have been carrying drugs in both the Pacific and Caribbean.

The latest strikes in the eastern Pacific, which Hegseth said happened on Monday at the direction of President Donald Trump, mark an escalation in what it has cast as a campaign to stop narcotics from entering the US.

The strikes have drawn condemnation in the region and experts have questioned their legality. Members of the US Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, have also raised concerns and questioned the president's authority to order them.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told her morning press conference "we do not agree with these attacks". She said she had asked the country's foreign minister, as well as representatives of the navy, to meet the US ambassador.

"We want all international treaties to be respected," she added.

At least 57 people have now been killed in the strikes, which has led to increasing tensions between the US and the governments of both Colombia and Venezuela.

Most strikes have taken place off the coast of South America, in the Caribbean, but recently the US has turned its attention to the Pacific Ocean as well.

In a statement on X, Hegseth said the four vessels that were hit on Monday "were known by our intelligence apparatus, transitioning along known narco-trafficking routes and carrying..."


(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...


TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: 01blowedup; 02realgood; drugboats; narcoterrorists; spammingfr
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-71 next last
To: NorthMountain

There are such agreements with acknowledged combatant parties that have signed treaties.

These drug smugglers are not represented by any such agreement. We aren’t currently at war with a country.


21 posted on 10/28/2025 2:16:05 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

the scandal is that they have known about this for years.

The previous policy was not to destroy the boats but rather to disable and capture them.

I’ve seen youtube shows about that.

They don’t say what percent of the traffic they are stopping.


22 posted on 10/28/2025 2:18:30 PM PDT by ckilmer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: central_va

Ah. OK. Thank you ...

To answer your question: there is no crime, because the targets are stateless, flagless vessels operating on the high seas in violation of the laws of every nation. They have the same legal status as pirates: fit only to be blown out of the water, with the survivors hanged from the nearest yardarm.

While the US Navy seems to be doing a good job, I remind one and all that the Congress still has the power to issue, and the President to sign, letters of marque and reprisal.


23 posted on 10/28/2025 2:22:38 PM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: NorthMountain

A Captain of a US warship is REQUIRED to interdict in acts of piracy. An unflagged vessel transporting contraband is an act of piracy.


24 posted on 10/28/2025 2:25:07 PM PDT by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeMind

While I am inclined to let the sharks have them, if someone else wants to rescue them I won’t throw rocks.


25 posted on 10/28/2025 2:25:12 PM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: ClearCase_guy
"we do not agree with these attacks"

Tell me that the cartels own your government without telling me that the cartels own your government.


Fekkin aye!
26 posted on 10/28/2025 2:26:24 PM PDT by know.your.why
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: central_va
"Interdict" covers a lot of ground, including past practice of stopping the boat, arresting the crew, and bringing them to the United States for trial.

Interdiction by Hellfire missile is rather more efficient.

27 posted on 10/28/2025 2:28:15 PM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

“tensions between the US and the governments of both Colombia and Venezuela.

I almost had hope for Colombia. But, something in the water South of the border keeps them voting for commies. Hopefully Millie can hold Argentina together.


28 posted on 10/28/2025 2:28:54 PM PDT by Organic Panic ('Was I molested. I think so' - Ashley Biden in response to her father joining her in the shower.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: central_va

Porpoises are terrible witnesses.

So long and thanks for all the fish.


29 posted on 10/28/2025 2:30:44 PM PDT by Dacula
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Organic Panic

Shouldn’t these countries be thanking the USA for stopping this traffic?


30 posted on 10/28/2025 2:32:14 PM PDT by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Gen.Blather

“They used different incentives to get regular fishermen and sailors to crew the boats. Sometimes they’d kidnap their families. Sometimes they’d simply pay them a couple of thousand dollars.”

(assuming the above isn’t another DNC talking point) Since they wind up dead anyway, being a ‘loose end’ after their drug run, we’re just hastening the process and making it a bit less lucrative for the cartels. As to profit levels, exactly - we take out stuff when it’s concentrated (as in these boats) and it has a HUGE EFFECT overall on the drug supply in the US.


31 posted on 10/28/2025 2:36:52 PM PDT by BobL (Trusting one's doctor is the #1 health mistake one can make.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: ckilmer

“The previous policy was not to destroy the boats but rather to disable and capture them. I’ve seen youtube shows about that.”

My thinking is that the cartels figured out that they could tie-up our navy/coast guard with running a fleet of boats, maybe 6 at a time, knowing that one or two will get caught and by following Leftist procedures, the remaining boats would have a clear run to the US.


32 posted on 10/28/2025 2:39:53 PM PDT by BobL (Trusting one's doctor is the #1 health mistake one can make.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Organic Panic

“I almost had hope for Colombia. But, something in the water South of the border keeps them voting for commies.”

I always thought it was more the language, but maybe the Catholic Church is the cause of their idiocy.


33 posted on 10/28/2025 2:41:43 PM PDT by BobL (Trusting one's doctor is the #1 health mistake one can make.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum
US kills 14 in strikes on four alleged drug boats in Pacific

Excellent!

Keep increasing the pace!

34 posted on 10/28/2025 2:44:32 PM PDT by Navy Patriot (President Trump Decisively Won, Celebrate Recivilization!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told her morning press conference "we do not agree with these attacks".

Get on one of these boats and hold up a sign saying so ...

please.

35 posted on 10/28/2025 2:47:52 PM PDT by Navy Patriot (President Trump Decisively Won, Celebrate Recivilization!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

They blowed up real good.


36 posted on 10/28/2025 2:49:33 PM PDT by packrat35 (“When discourse ends, violence begins.” – Charlie Kirk, and they killed him anyway)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gen.Blather

If a person is trying to break into my house, I don’t ask his motivations, nor do I ask if he did it on his own. I simply show him and move on.


37 posted on 10/28/2025 2:53:14 PM PDT by packrat35 (“When discourse ends, violence begins.” – Charlie Kirk, and they killed him anyway)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: NorthMountain
Check out the Laconia Incident of WWII. German U-Boats rallied to rescue British citizens from a ship they torpedoed only to be attacked by American B-24s. The U-Boats were targeted even though civilians were standing on the decks. Admiral Karl Dönitz issued orders to the fleet to never again rescue survivors.
38 posted on 10/28/2025 2:55:05 PM PDT by GingisK
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Sirius Lee

You mean... concern troll hasn’t shown up yet?!
Phew.. it really is a miracle!


39 posted on 10/28/2025 2:55:56 PM PDT by Bikkuri
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: packrat35

shoot him


40 posted on 10/28/2025 2:56:09 PM PDT by packrat35 (“When discourse ends, violence begins.” – Charlie Kirk, and they killed him anyway)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-71 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson