Hegseth says US attacked alleged drug-running boats in Pacific, killing 14

Defence secretary Pete Hegseth (Evan Vucci/AP)

Defence secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the US military carried out three strikes on Monday in the waters of the Eastern Pacific against boats suspected of carrying drugs, killing 14 people and leaving one survivor.

The announcement, made on social media, marks a continued escalation in the pace of the strikes, which began in early September spaced weeks apart.