• U.S. military strikes on three vessels in the eastern Pacific killed eight alleged "narco-terrorists."
• The operation is part of a broader military campaign against drug trafficking, which has seen over 90 deaths since September.
• The Trump administration claims these strikes are essential to combat drug cartels and protect national security.

The U.S. military conducted strikes on three alleged drug trafficking vessels in international waters of the eastern Pacific on Monday, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals, designated as "male narco-terrorists." The military stated the vessels were operating along known narcotics routes, engaging in drug trafficking, and were executed under the direction of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, as reported by The Hill and Al Jazeera.

This operation is notable as part of an ongoing campaign that has reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 95 individuals in similar strikes since it began in early September, raising legal and ethical concerns within Congress. Various lawmakers have criticized the Trump administration for lack of evidence supporting the attacks and argued that they may constitute unlawful extrajudicial killings, according to South China Morning Post and BBC.

The military campaign has intensified amidst ongoing tensions with Venezuela, which has faced severe accusations from the U.S. of harboring drug traffickers. Recent operations included the seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker, and U.S. officials claim that these efforts are crucial to dismantle networks that support hostile regimes through narcotics and smuggling, as noted by ABC News and Reuters.

In the wake of these strikes, scrutiny on the administration has heightened, with planned briefings in Congress aiming to address the military strategy against drug trafficking. The results of these operations and their implications raise vital questions about military engagement in narcotics enforcement and its legal ramifications, reflected in discussions from India Times and CBS News.