The U.S. Department of Defense reported that on October 17, following instructions from President Donald Trump, a “lethal kinetic attack” was carried out against a vessel allegedly affiliated with the National Liberation Army (ELN), a situation that has not yet been officially confirmed. According to the department, the incident occurred in international waters, within the area of responsibility of U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM). Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that the action is part of a direct offensive against transnational drug trafficking networks. According to his statement, the operation was executed as part of the U.S. government's efforts to neutralize what he described as “terrorist threats” linked to drug trafficking. Screenshot of the statement by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Photo: X: @SecWar President Gustavo Petro commented on the announcement of the US attack and stated, "The fisherman's boat from Santa Marta did not belong to the ELN; it belonged to a humble family, lovers of the sea." He then questioned Secretary Hegseth: "What do you say to that family? Explain to me why you helped murder a humble fisherman from Santa Marta, the land where Bolívar died, and which they say is the heart of the world." The fisherman's boat from Santa Marta did not belong to the ELN; it belonged to a humble family, lovers of the sea, and from which they obtained their food. What do you say to that family? Explain to me why you helped murder a humble fisherman from Santa Marta, the land where Bolívar died, and which they say is the heart of the world… https://t.co/Dd9D1aEqGK— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) October 19, 2025
Prior intelligence monitoring, according to Hegseth stated that the vessel had been identified and monitored by U.S. intelligence agencies, which, according to him, determined its involvement in illicit narcotics smuggling activities. “The vessel was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was sailing along a known drug trafficking route, and was transporting substantial quantities of narcotics,” the Secretary stated via X. According to information presented by the Department of War, prior surveillance confirmed the navigation route and authorized the execution of the attack, within the operational limits assigned to Southern Command. On October 17th, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel affiliated with Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN), a Designated Terrorist Organization, that was operating in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility. The… pic.twitter.com/1v7oR879LC— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) October 19, 2025
Result of the attack reported by authorities: According to the official statement, three men were aboard the vessel during the operation. Hegseth described them as “narco-terrorists” and maintained that they died during the attack. The War Department indicated that no U.S. forces were injured. The report did not include information on the identities of the deceased, the type of weaponry used, or the final destination of the attacked vessel. JOS GUERRERO, DIGITAL REACH EDITORIAL STAFF. More news

El Departamento de Guerra de Estados Unidos informó que el 17 de octubre, siguiendo instrucciones del presidente Donald Trump, se realizó un “ataque cinético letal” contra una embarcación presuntamente afiliada al Ejército de Liberación Nacional (Eln), situación que aún no se ha confirmado oficialmente.Según esa institución, el hecho ocurrió en aguas internacionales, dentro del área de responsabilidad del Comando Sur (USSOUTHCOM). LEA TAMBIÉN El secretario de Guerra, Pete Hegseth, aseguró que la acción hace parte de una ofensiva directa contra redes de narcotráfico transnacional.  De acuerdo con su declaración, la operación fue ejecutada como parte de los esfuerzos del Gobierno estadounidense por neutralizar lo que calificó como “amenazas terroristas” vinculadas al tráfico de drogas.Captura de pantalla del comunicado del secretario de Guerra, Pete Hegseth. Foto:X: @SecWarEl presidente Gustavo Petro se pronunció sobre el anuncio del ataque de Estados Unidos y aseguró "la lancha del pescador de Santa Marta no era del Eln, era de una familia humilde, amante del mar".Y le cuestionó al secretario Hegseth: "¿Qué le dice usted a esa familia?, explíqueme porque usted ayudó a asesinar un humilde pescador de Santa Marta, la tierra donde murió Bolívar, y de la que dicen, es el corazón del mundo".La lancha del pescador de Santa Marta no era del ELN, era de una familia humilde, amante del mar y de ahí extraía sus alimentos.Qué le dice usted a esa familia, explíqueme porque usted ayudó a asesinar un humilde pescador de Santa Marta, la tierra donde murió Bolívar, y de la… https://t.co/Dd9D1aEqGK— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) October 19, 2025
Seguimiento previo de inteligencia, según HegsethHegseth afirmó que la embarcación había sido identificada y vigilada por agencias de inteligencia estadounidenses, las cuales, según él, determinaron su implicación en actividades de contrabando ilícito de narcóticos.“El buque estaba involucrado en el contrabando ilícito de narcóticos, navegaba por una ruta conocida de narcotráfico y transportaba cantidades sustanciales de narcóticos”, declaró el secretario por medio de X.De acuerdo con la información presentada por el Departamento de Guerra, el seguimiento previo permitió confirmar la ruta de navegación y autorizar la ejecución del ataque, dentro de los límites operacionales asignados al Comando Sur.On October 17th, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel affiliated with Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN), a Designated Terrorist Organization, that was operating in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility.The… pic.twitter.com/1v7oR879LC— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) October 19, 2025
Resultado del ataque reportado por las autoridadesSegún el comunicado oficial, durante la operación se encontraban tres hombres a bordo del buque. Hegseth los calificó como “narco-terroristas” y sostuvo que murieron durante el ataque. El Departamento de Guerra señaló que ninguna fuerza estadounidense resultó herida.El reporte no incluyó información sobre la identidad de las personas fallecidas, el tipo de armamento utilizado ni el destino final de la embarcación atacada.JOS GUERREROREDACCIÓN ALCANCE DIGITALMás noticias