Part 3/13:
The US administration, reportedly under directives from President Donald Trump, claims the vessels targeted were involved in narcotics smuggling, with authorities emphasizing that the ships were part of established trafficker networks. Defense officials stressed that the vessels displayed signs of trafficking activity, though specific identities or affiliations were not publicly disclosed. The operation signifies a shift from interdiction—arresting or inspecting vessels—to a model of preemptive attack, treating suspected traffickers as enemy combatants rather than suspects under criminal law.