Since September, President Donald Trump and Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth have ordered controversial navy strikes towards boats within the Caribbean and Jap Pacific.
The Trump administration has alleged with little proof that the boats have been smuggling medication from Venezuela and Colombia. The marketing campaign up to now has killed greater than 80 alleged drug runners, based on officers.
President Donald Trump and Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth attend a cupboard assembly on the White Home in Washington, October 9, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Venezuelan and Colombian leaders have refuted the administration’s grounds for the assaults and slammed Trump for his navy motion.
On Capitol Hill, some leaders from each events have questioned the legality of the strikes and whether or not the president has the constitutional energy to authorize them.
Here’s a timeline of the operation:
Sept. 2, 2025
Trump posts video on his social media platform of what he says is a strike on a boat carrying drugs to the U.S. The president says the 11 “Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists” aboard have been killed and that they have been working below the management of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Maduro denies the allegations.
Sept. 15, 2025:
Trump declares a second strike reportedly kills three folks within the Caribbean.
The president says in a social media publish there have been “3 male terrorists killed in motion.”
President Donald Trump and US Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth attend a roundtable with the Homeland Safety Activity Drive within the State Eating Room of the White Home in Washington, October 23, 2025.
Will Oliver/EPA/Shutterstock
When requested by reporters in regards to the strike, Trump says the incident occurred in worldwide waters and insisted “we have now proof” that the boat was carrying medication due to the cargo within the ocean.
“Large baggage of cocaine and fentanyl in all places,” he says.
Sept. 19, 2025:
Three individuals are killed in a third strike within the Caribbean.
Trump alleges they have been working for an unspecified “designated terrorist group.”
The president supplies little element in regards to the operation however says intelligence indicated the vessel was trafficking medication and was “transiting alongside a identified narcotrafficking passage enroute to poison People.”
Oct. 3, 2025:
The president reveals a fourth strike kills 4 folks he alleges have been “male narcoterrorists.”
Trump alleges the boat was “loaded with sufficient medication to kill 25 TO 50 THOUSAND PEOPLE.”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro posts on X that folks on the boat were actually from Colombia.
A picture from a video launched by President Donald Trump on his Reality Social account, claims to point out a deadly kinetic strike on a vessel simply off the Coast of Venezuela, Oct. 14, 2025.
@realDonaldTrump/Reality Social
Oct. 14, 2025:
The president makes use of his speech to rejoice the 250th anniversary of the Navy to disclose a fifth strike that reportedly kills six males within the Caribbean.
Trump alleges intelligence confirmed the vessel was “trafficking narcotics” and “was related to illicit narcoterrorist networks.”
Oct. 16, 2025:
A strike that hit a ship within the Caribbean had lingering results after it was revealed there have been survivors.
President Donald Trump speaks within the Oval Workplace of the White Home, Oct. 16, 2025, in Washington.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Video launched by the Protection Division reveals a semi-submersible that Trump alleges was “loaded up” with fentanyl. Two of the 4 folks within the vessel are killed.
The 2 survivors, who Trump identifies as terrorists, were released to Colombia and Ecuador inside hours, a transfer that forestalls them from protesting their detention in courtroom.
U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Alvin Holsey, navy deputy commander, U.S. Southern Command, testifies earlier than the Senate Committee on Armed Companies at a affirmation listening to in Washington, Sept. 12, 2024.
Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mcclanahan/Air Nationwide Guard
The identical day, Adm. Alvin Holsey, the Southern Command chief who oversees navy operations within the area, announces he’s stepping down after lower than a 12 months within the publish.
Oct. 17, 2025:
Hegseth declares a seventh strike within the Caribbean and alleges three males with ties to Colombian terror teams have been killed in worldwide waters.
Secretary of Warfare Pete Hegseth introduced on his X account that the Division of Warfare carried out a deadly kinetic strike on a vessel being operated by a Designated Terrorist Group and conducting narco-trafficking within the Jap Pacific on Oct. 21, 2022.
@SecWar/X
Oct. 21, 2025
The operation targets its first boat within the Pacific Ocean, killing two folks.
Hegseth says the eighth strike occurred within the waters west of Central America.
Oct. 22, 2025
The administration continues its assaults within the Pacific with a ninth strike on a ship.
Hegseth says the vessel was transporting narcotics and says three males have been killed.
Secretary of Warfare, Pete Hegseth posted on his X account that the Division of Warfare carried out a deadly kinetic strike on in a single day on a vessel within the Caribbean Sea, Oct. 24, 2025.
@SecWar/X
Oct. 24, 2025
Six individuals are killed when a ship is hit off the coast off Venezuela within the 10th strike within the operation.
Hegseth says the goal was an alleged drug vessel operated by Tren de Aragua.
The U.S. has carried out strikes towards 4 extra alleged drug vessels within the Jap Pacific, Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth introduced Oct. 28, 2025, killing 14 folks.
@SecWar/X
Oct. 27, 2025
Within the largest strike thus far, 14 people are killed within the Jap Pacific, based on the protection secretary.
Hegseth says the U.S. focused 4 alleged drug boats in three coordinated assaults.
The U.S. has carried out strikes towards 4 extra alleged drug vessels within the Jap Pacific, Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth introduced Oct. 28, 2025, killing 14 folks.
@SecWar/X
One survivor is reported, based on Hegseth. The Mexican Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard say they’re looking for the survivor.
Oct. 29, 2025
The U.S. targets one other boat within the japanese Pacific and kills 4 folks in a fifteenth strike, based on Hegseth.
On this display seize from a video posted on social media, a ship is proven after being hit with a kinetic strike within the Jap Pacific.
@SecWar
“This vessel, like all of the others, was identified by our intelligence to be concerned in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting alongside a identified narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics,” Hegseth says with out offering particulars.
Nov. 1, 2025
Hegseth announces that three individuals are killed in a strike on an alleged drug boat within the Caribbean.
“These narco-terrorists are bringing medication to our shores to poison People at dwelling — and they won’t succeed,” Hegseth says in a publish on X. “The Division will deal with them EXACTLY how we handled Al-Qaeda. We are going to proceed to trace them, map them, hunt them, and kill them.”
Nov. 4, 2025
In a sixteenth strike, two individuals are killed when an alleged drug boat is struck within the japanese Pacific, Hegseth announces on X.
This display seize from a video posted by US Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth on his X account on November 4, 2025 reveals what Hegseth says is a deadly strike on a vessel carrying narcotics within the Jap Pacific Ocean.
US Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth’s X Account
“We are going to discover and terminate EVERY vessel with the intention of trafficking medication to America to poison our residents. Defending the homeland is our TOP precedence. NO cartel terrorist stands an opportunity towards the American navy,” Hegseth says.
Nov. 6, 2025
Hegseth announces three individuals are killed in a seventeenth strike on an alleged drug boat, this one within the Caribbean.
This display seize from a video posted by US Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth on his X account on November 6, 2025 reveals what Hegseth says is a deadly strike on a vessel carrying narcotics within the Jap Pacific Ocean.
US Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth’s X Account
“To all narco-terrorists who threaten our homeland: if you wish to keep alive, cease trafficking medication. Should you hold trafficking lethal medication — we are going to kill you,” Hegseth says in a publish on X.
Nov. 9, 2025
Hegseth the next day announces two extra strikes on alleged drug boats – the 18th and nineteenth — have been carried out within the japanese Pacific, killing three folks in every craft.
This display seize from a video posted by US Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth on his X account on November 10, 2025 reveals what Hegseth says is a deadly strike on a vessel carrying narcotics within the Jap Pacific Ocean on November 9, 2025.
US Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth’s X Account/AFP through Getty Photographs
“Below President Trump, we’re defending the homeland and killing these cartel terrorists who want to hurt our nation and its folks,” Hegseth says in a publish on X.
Nov. 13, 2025
The U.S. navy carried out a strike on an alleged drug cartel boat within the Caribbean earlier within the week, killing all 4 folks aboard, a U.S. official instructed ABC Information.
Nov. 15, 2025
The U.S. Southern Command has posted a video on X of the most recent U.S. navy airstrike on an alleged drug smuggling vessel. The strike occurred on Saturday within the japanese Pacific and killed three folks aboard, based on officers.
There have now been 21 airstrikes towards these sorts of vessels within the Caribbean and the japanese Pacific, and 83 folks have been killed within the strikes.
