The U.S. military conducted a strike on an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Friday, killing two individuals and leaving one survivor. U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) confirmed the operation, stating it targeted a vessel linked to designated terrorist organizations and narcotics trafficking. Video footage released by SOUTHCOM shows an explosion followed by a column of fire rising from the ocean. The survivor was rescued after the U.S. Coast Guard activated its Search and Rescue system.
The strike is part of a broader U.S. campaign against drug cartels, which has intensified in recent weeks. Since early September, the Trump administration has carried out multiple strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels, killing at least 192 people, according to CBS News, or 193, per ABC News. The military has not provided evidence that any of the targeted vessels were carrying drugs.
The White House announced Wednesday that President Trump signed off on a new U.S. counterterrorism strategy, prioritizing the elimination of drug cartels in the Western Hemisphere. The administration has pressured regional leaders to collaborate more closely with the U.S. in targeting cartels and transnational gangs, which Trump has described as an "unacceptable threat" to hemispheric security.
Critics have questioned the legality of the strikes, particularly after reports of a "double tap" attack in September that killed survivors of an initial strike. Some lawmakers raised concerns that the follow-on strike may have constituted a war crime. SOUTHCOM has not released additional details about the individuals killed in Friday’s strike.