US military strike kills two on suspected drug-trafficking vessel in Eastern Pacific
The United States military said on Monday it carried out a strike on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, killing two people. US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said in a post on X that the strike, which took place on Sunday, targeted a vessel "operating along established narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific." The command added that "confirmed intelligence revealed the vessel's active involvement in narco-trafficking."
According to SOUTHCOM, the operation was executed by the Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere under the direction of SOUTHCOM Commander General Francis L. Donovan. In statements quoted by the command, Donovan said, "We are committed to imposing total systemic friction on narco-terrorists — disrupting their operations, dismantling their leadership and eliminating cartel terror across the region." He also said, "Let me be clear, we will not permit narco-terrorists to operate with impunity in the Western Hemisphere, nor will we allow their deadly poison to reach American communities. This operation is a powerful demonstration of our lethal precision, overwhelming capability, and absolute resolve to protect the U.S. homeland."
SOUTHCOM described the strike as "a clear and decisive reminder that SOUTHCOM is taking the fight directly to the cartels." The command identified the two killed as "narco-terrorists."
The military released grainy, black-and-white video footage accompanying the post, which showed a boat moving through the water before a large explosion.
Background: Operation Southern Spear
The strike is part of Operation Southern Spear, a US military campaign launched in early September. President Donald Trump has argued that Washington is effectively at war with Latin American drug cartels. Since the operation began, more than 200 people have been killed in strikes across the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, according to a tally by the AFP news agency.
Concerns over evidence and legality
While SOUTHCOM cited confirmed intelligence in this case, the Trump administration has not provided definitive evidence that the vessels it has been striking are involved in drug trafficking. Legal experts and rights groups have warned that such strikes could amount to extrajudicial killings.
In May, the Pentagon's inspector general said it would review whether the military followed standard targeting procedures in these operations, but the evaluation will not examine the legal authority behind the strikes.