Boom—another narco-terror vessel has been taken out in the Caribbean, as the U.S. military continues its relentless campaign against drug-smuggling operations tied to dangerous cartels.

The U.S. military, under President Donald Trump’s direct orders, launched a strike on a vessel linked to a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO), killing three suspected smugglers, marking the 15th operation since September in a broader effort that has claimed at least 64 lives in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, Fox News reported. 

This latest strike, announced by War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday, targeted a ship intelligence confirmed was hauling narcotics along a well-known smuggling route.

Striking Hard at Sea: U.S. Targets Narco-Terror

Hegseth didn’t mince words when detailing the operation, painting a clear picture of the administration’s resolve to crush these networks.

“Today, the Department of War carried out a lethal kinetic strike on another narco-trafficking vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO) in the Caribbean,” Hegseth declared.

Good for him—someone needs to stand up to these cartels poisoning our communities, though one wonders if the body count will ever deter the next ship from setting sail.

Trump’s War on Cartels: Armed Conflict Declared

President Trump has framed this campaign as nothing less than an armed conflict, invoking post-9/11 authorities to justify the use of lethal force against what he calls transnational terror organizations.

This isn’t just about drugs; it’s about national security, as these groups exploit porous borders and weak oversight to flood our streets with poison.

Trump’s directive has fueled what Hegseth calls a “maritime offensive” against cartels, a strategy that’s racked up 15 strikes since September—hardly a half-hearted effort.

Critics Demand Answers on Legal Justifications

Yet, not everyone’s cheering from the sidelines, as critics in Congress are raising eyebrows over the legal nuts and bolts of these operations.

Senate Democrats, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer alongside Jack Reed and Jeanne Shaheen, fired off a letter on Friday to top administration officials demanding clarity on which groups are being targeted and under what authority.

“We also request that you provide all legal opinions related to these strikes and a list of the groups or other entities the President has deemed targetable,” the letter stated, signaling a push for transparency that’s long overdue—or just political grandstanding, depending on your view.

Transparency or Politics? Senate Pushes Back

The Senate Armed Services Committee has also dug into the issue, releasing two earlier letters from September and October pressing the Pentagon for specifics on which cartels are officially labeled terrorist entities.

Some lawmakers grumble about inconsistent briefings, with a few left entirely in the dark—a fair concern, though it’s hard not to suspect this is less about oversight and more about scoring points against an administration they’ve never liked.

Still, when lives are on the line and military force is deployed, shouldn’t every American, not just a select few in Congress, understand the rules of engagement? This campaign against narco-terror groups is vital, but it must stand up to scrutiny if it’s to maintain public trust.