Ankara: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday: that the US struck another drug vessel in the Eastern Pacific as part of the Trump administration's campaign against 'narco-terrorism.'

According to Anadolu Agency, Hegseth announced on the US social media company X's platform that earlier in the day, at the direction of President Donald Trump, the Department of War executed a lethal kinetic strike on a narco-trafficking vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization in the Eastern Pacific. This strike is part of ongoing efforts to combat drug smuggling operations.

Hegseth reported that US intelligence had identified the vessel as being involved in illicit narcotics smuggling while it was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, carrying narcotics. The operation resulted in the deaths of four male individuals described as "terrorists" who were aboard the vessel. Notably, the strike was conducted in international waters, and no US forces were harmed during the operation.

In his statement, Hegseth emphasized that the Western Hemisphere would no longer serve as a safe haven for narco-terrorists attempting to bring drugs to the US to harm Americans. This attack is the latest in a series of US strikes targeting suspected drug-trafficking boats as part of the Trump administration's broader campaign against 'narco-terrorism.'

Hegseth also highlighted his department's recent initiative to form a joint task force operating within the US Southern Command area of responsibility, aimed at targeting drug trafficking organizations.