• The U.S. military conducted strikes on three vessels in the eastern Pacific, killing a total of eight suspects.
• The operation, labeled a “lethal kinetic strike,” has intensified scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the strikes as part of a broader campaign against narco-terrorism.
• Over 95 alleged drug traffickers have died in similar operations since the campaign began in early September.
• U.S. actions are part of an effort to pressure Venezuela's Maduro, whom they accuse of collaborating with drug cartels.

The U.S. military has carried out strikes against three vessels in the eastern Pacific, claiming the actions resulted in the deaths of eight "narco-terrorists." According to the U.S. Southern Command, the operation targeted boats engaged in drug trafficking and was conducted under the authority of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, citing intelligence that confirmed the vessels were traveling along known narcotics routes in international waters, as reported by The Hill, India Times, SCMP, and CBS News.

These strikes come during heightened scrutiny from Congress about the legality of such military actions, which some experts have classified as extrajudicial killings. The campaign has reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 95 individuals across 25 operations targeting drug vessels since its inception in September, raising questions about the U.S. administration's legal justification for these strikes, according to AA, Reuters, and ABC News.

The military operations have intensified the focus on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom the U.S. accuses of narcoterrorism and colluding with drug cartels. These actions are perceived as part of a broader strategy to apply pressure on Maduro's regime, amidst claims that the U.S. is seeking to destabilize Venezuela for control over its oil resources, as outlined by Al Jazeera, BBC, and NPR.

As the military strikes continue, the U.S. has also increased its naval presence in the region, with Biden's administration justifying these measures as necessary to counteract drug trafficking operations affecting the United States, a narrative echoed by multiple sources including SFGate, CBS News, and SCMP.