The U.S. hit another alleged drug vessel with a military strike Tuesday night, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed Wednesday. CBS News senior national security correspondent Charlie d'Agata has more.

Washington

The United States has executed its eighth strike against a vessel suspected of drug smuggling, marking the first such operation on the Pacific side of the Southern Command's jurisdiction. Previous strikes have occurred in the Caribbean, but this latest action took place off the coast of an unspecified country, potentially Colombia, Panama, or Ecuador. 

Reports indicate that two to three individuals aboard the targeted boat were killed. The U.S. Navy and Coast Guard have been conducting these interdictions for an extended period, aiming to disrupt drug trafficking routes. The release of strike footage to the public has been notably swift, reflecting an emphasis on demonstrating military presence and capability in the region.

U.S. carries out eighth strike on alleged drug boat

I want to put a pin in that and ask you about something else that's also strike related some breaking news moments ago We learned about an eighth strike on an alleged drug boat. Where was the strike? What do you know about this Charlie? yeah, so we're just getting the details because as you mentioned we just found out about it a few minutes ago and Unlike the rest of the strikes the previous strikes that have happened in the Caribbean or Caribbean. This is on the Pacific side So it's still the same region. It's still in that area Southern Command and it's still Interdiction for drug Suspected drug smugglers. We understand two to three individuals on board have been killed We're not exactly sure where this happened because it could be Any number of countries it could be off the coast of Colombia or Panama or Ecuador for that matter And these drug interdictions have been happening. I mean for months maybe years Normally the Navy and the Coast Guard working for these interdictions But it's a reminder that we talk a lot about what's happening in Venezuela and around the Caribbean Caribbean this is also a project that under the Southcom or Southern Command area of responsibility that includes the Pacific as well Because that little narrow strip of land you have drug running from both sides and kind of what's more significant about it Some critics have said that the Caribbean and the drugs that are being run or suspected to the drug runs are going to Trinidad and Tobago Those would likely be headed toward Europe and Africa on the West Coast Those are more likely to be headed to the United States via Mexico or Southern, California so if if the idea is to stop drug running in rat rather than take a more Militarized approach against Venezuela you would want to concentrate on the West Coast Charlie I'm gonna ask you the question that I'd ask if you and I were sitting down for a beer because it strikes me as We look at some of these videos That the military is really turning these around they're clearing these for public view in a way that seems faster We know you have decades of experience reporting on these things Does it strike you as well the speed? With which we go from strike to showing the American public about this and what does that say overall about sending a message? Yeah read, you know, it's it's day off, you know, sometimes we get it a few minutes we expect to get video from this latest strike and we saw the the last one the seventh strike was on a submersible and You know, I've been speaking to folks down at Southern Command. I've been speaking to the Navy who's responsible How are these being waged certainly looks like a Reaper drone strike and the kind of video would be shot from a drone footage So what that's just speculation I mean It's not just journalists who are trying to get to the information trying to get the evidence There are people on on Capitol Hill that want to know more about these targets But yes, this is all about the optics and we talk a lot about Venezuela We've even raised the question about regime change and Nicolas Maduro who President Trump has you know stated? There's a 50 million dollar bounty For leading to for anything leading to his arrest. So there's a sense that this is pointed toward Venezuela and rising the heat there Seven battleships or warships in that region there F-35 fighter jets 10,000 troops. It has become a militarized zone the commander of South Com Departed or he will be departing at the end of the year. That was a surprise decision. It was a three-year term He's gonna be leaving after just one year in December 12th. He's gonna be resigning So he'll be replaced so a lot there are a lot more questions than answers But when it comes to optics you talk about that video that's been released That is all about showing force and that's what you'll hear from Defense Secretary Hegseth and from the White House and again, we expect to see that video of this latest strike this afternoon Charlie Daggett awaiting for that video. We know you'll turn it around quickly always great to talk to you friend You have a good day

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