US Military Strikes Three Boats in Pacific, Killing Eight Amid Congressional Scrutiny

Photo credit: Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images.

On Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth spoke during a Mexican Border Defense medal presentation in the Oval Office of the White House.

President Donald Trump said he was classifying fentanyl as a “weapon of mass destruction” in his latest push to ratchet up pressure on Latin America over drug trafficking.

The U.S. military struck three boats in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Monday, killing eight people, as congressional scrutiny over the campaign intensifies.

The Strikes

According to a statement posted on social media, the U.S. military said the vessels were accused of smuggling drugs and were designated as “designated terrorist organizations.” The first boat suffered three fatalities, the second two, and the third three, bringing the total to eight. The military did not provide evidence of drug trafficking but posted a video of a boat moving through water before exploding.

Congressional Response

President Donald Trump has justified the attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States and asserted the U.S. is engaged in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels. The campaign has killed at least 95 people in 25 known strikes since early September, including a follow‑up strike that killed two survivors clinging to the wreckage of a boat after the first hit. The latest strikes come on the eve of briefings on Capitol Hill for all members of Congress as questions mount over the campaign.

International Implications

The campaign has ramped up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who has been charged with narcoterrorism in the U.S. In a sharp escalation last week, U.S. forces seized a sanctioned oil tanker that the Trump administration has accused of smuggling illicit crude. Maduro has insisted the real purpose of the U.S. military operations is to force him from office. The U.S. military has built up its largest presence in the region in decades and launched a series of deadly strikes on alleged drug‑smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. Trump says land attacks are coming soon but has not offered any details on location.

Upcoming Briefings

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other top national security officials are expected to provide closed‑door briefings for lawmakers in the House and Senate.

Key Takeaways

• Three boats struck in the eastern Pacific, eight fatalities.
• The campaign has killed at least 95 people in 25 strikes since early September.
• U.S. military expanding presence; pressure on Maduro; Trump claims armed conflict.

The U.S. military’s ongoing boat strike campaign continues to draw scrutiny from Congress and raises questions about the scope and legality of the operation, as officials prepare to brief lawmakers on the strategy.