Hegseth, in a post on X, said the US had carried out the strikes on Sunday in international waters in the eastern Pacific, targeting two boats “carrying narcotics” with three people on board each.

“All 6 were killed. No U.S. forces were harmed,” he said.

As in previous strikes, which began under President Donald Trump’s administration in September, US officials did not release the identities of those killed, or offer evidence that they were smuggling narcotics or posed a threat to the US.

Experts say the strikes, which have taken place in both the Pacific and Caribbean, amount to extrajudicial killings even if they target known traffickers.

Hegseth said the two vessels were “operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations,” but did not name the groups.

The Trump administration has said in a notice to Congress that the US is engaged in “armed conflict” with Latin American drug cartels, describing them as terrorist groups as part of its justification for the strikes.

Video accompanying the post showed a strike on one boat sitting stationary in the water, and a separate open-top vessel exploding while underway.

A short video clip in color of the moving vessel shows what appear to be several parcels loaded inside. No details can be made out on the stationary vessel, which appears in black-and-white video.

The US strikes have now destroyed at least 20 vessels so far — 19 boats and a semi-submersible.

“Under President Trump, we are protecting the homeland and killing these cartel terrorists who wish to harm our country and its people,” Hegseth said.

The strikes on alleged drug traffickers have coincided with a US military buildup in the Caribbean.

Washington says their mission is to combat drug trafficking, but Caracas views the ships as a threat to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.