What recent military actions has the Pentagon announced in the Pacific?
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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. The Pentagon has announced another strike on a boat in the Pacific. NPR's Quill Lawrence reports it happened as some lawmakers say an earlier strike killed shipwrecked survivors.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on social media that the U.S. military conducted another deadly strike on a small boat he said was carrying drugs in the eastern Pacific. He released a brief surveillance video of a boat bursting into flames. This was the 22nd known attack on alleged narco-traffickers.
It took place the same day that Admiral Mitch Bradley briefed congressional leaders behind closed doors about the first strike on September 2nd. Some Democratic members of Congress say video of that incident showed that two surviving crew members were killed about 40 minutes after the initial strike while trying to right their capsized boat.
Republicans who viewed the same video say it was a legal military action. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.
Talks continue in Miami today as Ukrainian and American delegations attempt to advance peace in Ukraine, even as overnight Russia launched a barrage of missiles and drones against Ukraine. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports one controversial issue is the eastern Ukrainian territory of Donetsk, partially occupied by Russia.
Ukraine still holds on to a little less than 30% of Donetsk Oblast, but it's a key fortified belt that includes several cities with people who want to remain in Ukraine. Russia wants Ukraine to hand it all over. Ukrainians fear the U.S. in its quest to seal a deal. will pressure Kyiv to abandon Donetsk.
Russia is making incremental gains in eastern Ukraine but lost 25,000 soldiers in the month of October alone. Ukraine's commander-in-chief, General Oleksandr Sersky, says Kyiv's strategy is to exhaust the Russians and prevent their advance. Sersky says he does not even allow himself to consider a scenario in which Ukraine would be forced to give Russia the entire Donetsk region.
Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Kyiv.
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