The U.S. military conducted a lethal strike on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific on April 24, killing two individuals. U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) confirmed the operation, stating the vessel was linked to designated terrorist organizations and was transiting known narco-trafficking routes. No U.S. forces were harmed in the strike.
The strike marks the latest in a series of similar operations targeting drug-smuggling vessels as part of a broader campaign against cartel-linked trafficking. SOUTHCOM did not disclose the identities of those killed or the specific groups involved. The military has conducted numerous strikes in recent months, including a similar operation in the Caribbean last week that killed three suspected narco-terrorists.
President Donald Trump has framed the strikes as necessary to combat drug trafficking and cartel violence, asserting the U.S. is in an "armed conflict" with these groups. Critics, however, have raised questions about the legality and effectiveness of the strikes, noting the military has not provided evidence that any of the targeted vessels were carrying drugs. The strikes coincide with a heightened U.S. military presence in the region and follow the January capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who faces drug trafficking charges in New York.