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U.S. Military Kills 6 in Strikes on Suspected Drug Boats, Hegseth Says
The New York Times ^ | Nov. 10, 2025Updated 9:27 a.m. ET | Eric Schmitt

Posted on 11/10/2025 12:30:07 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum

The U.S. military killed six people on Sunday in two more strikes on boats suspected of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Monday.

The latest strikes raised the death toll in the campaign to 76 people in 19 attacks in the Pacific and the Caribbean Sea since early September.

In a post on social media, Mr. Hegseth cited “intelligence” and included two short video clips of the bombings of two separate boats that he said were traveling “along a known narco-trafficking transit route in the Eastern Pacific.”

One of the boats appeared to be at a full stop with two visible passengers and possibly with an outboard motor raised out of the water. The other was moving at high speed. But in neither case did Mr. Hegseth provide evidence for his claim that the three men aboard each of the two boats were smuggling narcotics. He said the attacks took place in international waters.

A wide range of specialists in laws governing the use of force have denounced the killings as illegal because the U.S. military is not allowed to intentionally target civilians who pose no threat of imminent violence, even those suspected of being criminals. The Trump administration says the strikes are lawful because President Trump has “determined” that the United States is in a formal armed conflict with drug cartels.

Mr. Trump has falsely asserted that each destroyed boat saves 25,000 American lives. In reality, as many as 100,000 Americans die each year from drug overdoses, but most of those deaths are a result of fentanyl, which comes from labs in Mexico. South America produces cocaine.

The strikes on Sunday came as the U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean was expected to grow sharply with the arrival as soon as this...

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


TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: boats; drugs; nuanced; nyslimes; smuggling
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1 posted on 11/10/2025 12:30:07 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Maybe these are decoys......................


2 posted on 11/10/2025 12:31:59 PM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

They blowed up real good. They may have better luck buying lottery tickets.


3 posted on 11/10/2025 12:36:51 PM PST by FlingWingFlyer (Where does it say in the Constitution that taxpayers must feed the 42 Million SNAPPER LOSERS?)
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To: Red Badger

Sitting ducks?


4 posted on 11/10/2025 12:37:59 PM PST by FlingWingFlyer (Where does it say in the Constitution that taxpayers must feed the 42 Million SNAPPER LOSERS?)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

They should ask politely for samples before blowing them to kingdom come./s

Also ask how they’re feeling and if we could provide services and therapies, maybe a new job, family outreach like we do in ‘Merica


5 posted on 11/10/2025 12:40:25 PM PST by Karliner (Heb 4:12 Rom 8:28 Rev 3, "...This is the end of the beginning." Churchill)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
…”falsely?”
6 posted on 11/10/2025 12:42:28 PM PST by HIDEK6 (God bless Donald Trump )
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To: FlingWingFlyer

“Mr. Trump has falsely asserted“

That’s President Trump scumbag and the assertion is plausible.


7 posted on 11/10/2025 12:43:16 PM PST by iamgalt ( )
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

The Times loves criminals and commies. What’s new?


8 posted on 11/10/2025 12:43:20 PM PST by ChuckHam
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To: FlingWingFlyer

I bet the kingpins never tell their subordinates that the others were blown to bits. They probably tell them they were arrested and sitting in an American jail............


9 posted on 11/10/2025 12:44:39 PM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

A federal district court judge appointed by FDR just today ordered Pete to stop blowing up her suppliers.


10 posted on 11/10/2025 12:45:21 PM PST by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all armed conservatives)
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To: ChuckHam

The Times applauded when Obama used drones to kill American citizens.


11 posted on 11/10/2025 12:46:22 PM PST by Tell It Right (1 Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: Karliner

SEEMS TO ME THE FLOATING BAGS ON THE WATER SURFACE IS EVIDENCE.

NOT PAMPERS


12 posted on 11/10/2025 12:46:30 PM PST by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

The Slimes can take its phony “fact checking”, roll it all up, and stuff it.

The relevant facts here are that another drug boat bit the dust. That is all.


13 posted on 11/10/2025 12:51:23 PM PST by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: Red Badger
I bet the kingpins never tell their subordinates that the others were blown to bits.

If these idiots listen to the radio or watch TV, they'll start finding out.

If "Voice of America" was worth anything, it would be broadcasting these strikes worldwide. They're not secret.

14 posted on 11/10/2025 12:53:30 PM PST by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: iamgalt
“Mr. Trump has falsely asserted“
------------------------------------------
That’s President Trump scumbag and the assertion is plausible.

Referring to the President of the United States alternatively as "Mr." is a perfectly acceptable journalistic practice. Has been since the early days of the Republic. The custom is that, after the first mention of the President in the article where he is referred to as President __________, after that "Mr." can be used. This is considered a respectful form of address, as anybody else can simply be referred to by their last names alone.

15 posted on 11/10/2025 12:54:35 PM PST by fidelis (Ecce Crucem Domini! Fugite partes adversae! Vicit Leo de tribu Juda, Radix David! Alleluia!)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
The druggies are all sad and stuff.
16 posted on 11/10/2025 12:56:11 PM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (It's like somebody just put the Constitution up on a wall …. and shot the First Amendment -Mike Rowe)
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To: NorthMountain

“They’re not secret.”

In Venezuela I bet they are................


17 posted on 11/10/2025 12:58:41 PM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

76 less criminals coming here.


18 posted on 11/10/2025 1:06:45 PM PST by toddausauras (47 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 )
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

The “far left” New York Times never ceases to protect evil.


19 posted on 11/10/2025 1:09:47 PM PST by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...x)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I would safely bet that the President and his administration knows much more about if these are “drug boats” than does the New York Slimes...


20 posted on 11/10/2025 1:09:56 PM PST by JBW1949 (I'm really PC.....Patriotically Correct)
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