白宫证实，美国军队在东太平洋地区轰炸了一艘涉嫌走私毒品的船只，造成4人死亡。此次袭击紧随几天前美国国防部对该地区三艘船只发动的独立袭击，共造成14人死亡。美国国防部长赫格塞思称，被击毙的4人是“毒品恐怖分子”，船只由“被认定的恐怖组织”运营。袭击发生在东太平洋国际水域，具体地点未公布。赫格塞思表示，船只参与非法毒品走私，正行驶在已知贩毒路线上。这是近期美国在加勒比海和东太平洋一系列打击海上船只行动的一部分，旨在应对国家安全威胁，但批评者认为此举违反国际法。

US Military Strikes Drug Vessel: The US military conducted a strike on a vessel in the Eastern Pacific suspected of drug smuggling, resulting in the deaths of four individuals. This action is part of a broader pattern of US military operations in international waters targeting maritime trafficking.

Escalation of Operations: This incident follows three previous US military strikes on drug-smuggling vessels in the region just days earlier, which resulted in 14 deaths. US Secretary of Defense Hagenseth described the victims as "drug terrorists" and the vessel as being operated by a "designated terrorist organization."

Justification and Controversy: The US military claims these strikes are necessary national security measures against illegal drug trafficking. However, critics argue that these unilateral actions, particularly against non-combatants outside declared conflict zones, may violate international law, which generally prohibits the use of lethal force in such circumstances.

International Waters and Intelligence: The strike took place in international waters of the Eastern Pacific. US officials stated that intelligence indicated the vessel was engaged in illegal drug smuggling and was on a known trafficking route. However, no specific location was provided, and the White House has not publicly presented evidence to substantiate the drug trafficking allegations.

Broader Context of Maritime Operations: Since early September, the US military has carried out at least 14 strikes against approximately 15 maritime vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, leading to at least 61 confirmed deaths. This has resulted in an unusually high US military presence in the Caribbean.

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