U.S. Military Kills 14 in Eastern Pacific

The U.S. military carried out three strikes Monday in the eastern Pacific that hit four vessels, killing 14 people and leaving one survivor, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said, adding the boats were known to U.S. intelligence and transiting narco-trafficking routes. Hegseth posted footage of the strikes and said Mexican search-and-rescue authorities had assumed responsibility for coordinating rescue of the lone survivor; the strikes reportedly occurred in international waters. The attacks are part of a campaign launched in September that has now killed at least 57 people and represent an escalation — the first time multiple strikes were announced in a single day. The operation has drawn growing scrutiny from legal experts and some Republicans, who say the administration has not publicly presented evidence that those killed were cartel members and question the legality and congressional oversight of bombing suspected smugglers rather than attempting interdiction. Critics also note the campaign has expanded alongside broader U.S. pressure on Venezuela and a naval buildup in the region, raising further international and policy concerns.