Four killed in latest ‘drug boat’ strike as Hegseth faces war crimes accusations

WorldPolitics
6 Dec 2025 • 12:51 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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The US military conducted another deadly strike on an alleged drug boat, killing four men on board.

On Thursday (4 December), the United States Southern Command shared footage of the strike, which shows a small speed boat exploding into flames whilst sailing in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The vessel is the 22nd destroyed by the US military on suspicion of drug trafficking.

It comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is being accused of committing war crimes after he allegedly commanded military personnel to “kill everybody” during a follow-up strike on 2 September.