The announcement was carried out by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who noted one 'narco-terrorist' survivor was captured by Mexican search and rescue authorities. 

Hegseth said Mexico 'assumed responsibility for coordinating the rescue' but did not clarify if the survivor would be handed over to the US.

Footage of the strikes on the drug boats was posted to social media, where one vessel visibly filled with large numbers of parcels suddenly explodes while moving in the water. 

Other footage shows two stationary drug boats with at least two people seen moving along them before a US bomb engulfs the vessels in flame.

'The four vessels were known by our intelligence apparatus, transiting along known narco-trafficking routes, and carrying narcotics,' Hegseth wrote in a statement on X.

The total number of strikes on drug boats since early September 13 has risen to 13, with approximately 57 'narco-terrorists' dead. 

The exact location of the strikes is unknown. Hegseth noted in his announcement that the drug boat killings occurred in the 'Eastern Pacific.'

'Eight male narco-terrorists were aboard the vessels during the first strike,' Hegseth added. 

Back in October, the U.S. rescued two survivors from a military strike on drug vessel. The pair were later repatriated back to Colombia and Ecuador.

'Four male narco-terrorists were aboard the vessel during the second strike. Three male narco-terrorists were aboard the vessel during the third strike. A total of 14 narco-terrorists were killed during the three strikes, with one survivor. All strikes were in international waters with no U.S. forces harmed.'

A source close to Hegseth says the strikes will continue until cartels 'stop in their tracks.'

Since the start of his second term, Trump has made aggressive military moves against Latin American drug cartels.