The U.S. military conducted a lethal strike on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Eastern Pacific on May 26, killing one alleged narco-terrorist and leaving two survivors, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). The operation targeted a vessel allegedly operated by designated terrorist organizations and engaged in narco-trafficking operations along known drug routes. SOUTHCOM confirmed the strike was authorized by Gen. Francis L. Donovan and that the U.S. Coast Guard was notified to conduct search-and-rescue operations for the survivors. No U.S. forces were injured in the operation.
The strike is part of a broader U.S. campaign targeting suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean Sea. Since September, the military has conducted multiple strikes as part of this effort, with at least 193 people killed in the campaign. The Trump administration has justified the strikes as necessary to combat drug trafficking and cartel-linked terrorism, framing the operations as part of an armed conflict with cartels in Latin America. Critics, however, have raised questions about the legality and effectiveness of the strikes, noting that the military has not provided evidence that any of the targeted vessels were carrying drugs.
The White House recently announced a new U.S. counterterrorism strategy that prioritizes eliminating drug cartels in the Western Hemisphere. President Trump has called on regional leaders to collaborate more closely with the U.S. to target cartels and transnational gangs, which he describes as an unacceptable threat to hemispheric security.