RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT “US SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH” HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO —EDITORIAL USE ONLY—

SHOTLIST:

INTERNATIONAL WATERS (OCT. 28, 2025) (US SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH - RESTRICTED)

1. VARIOUS DRONE SHOTS OF AIRSTRIKES ON VESSELS IN OPEN SEA INTERNATIONAL WATERS - OCT. 28 - RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT “US SECRETARY OF WAR PETE HEGSETH” HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO -EDITORIAL USE ONLY: The United States carried out three additional strikes on Tuesday, Oct. 28, targeting four vessels allegedly involved in “narco-trafficking” in the Eastern Pacific, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said.

Hegseth said in a post on the US social media company X’s platform that the “lethal kinetic strikes” was carried against four vessel “operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations (DTO)."

US intelligence indicated that the four vessels was transiting along "known narco-trafficking routes" and were carrying narcotics, he said.

"A total of 14 narco-terrorists were killed during the three strikes, with one survivor. All strikes were in international waters with no U.S. forces harmed," he added.

"Regarding the survivor, USSOUTHCOM immediately initiated Search and Rescue (SAR) standard protocols; Mexican SAR authorities accepted the case and assumed responsibility for coordinating the rescue," he said.

The attacks mark the latest US strike on suspected drug-trafficking boats as part of the Trump administration’s campaign against “narco-terrorism.”

Rights groups and legal experts have questioned the legality of the operations, arguing that US strikes on drug cartels are pushing the bounds of international law.