The death toll from U.S. military strikes on suspected drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific has risen to at least 199 people, with survivors of recent attacks not found. The total includes 22 individuals who survived initial strikes only to be hit again or die at sea during the campaign, which began in September 2023. Among them, three people survived two separate strikes this month, including two who survived a strike this week in the eastern Pacific, according to the U.S. military.
U.S. Southern Command notifies the U.S. Coast Guard of any survivors, but reports are largely passed to countries near the strike locations. Mexico’s navy confirmed receiving alerts from the U.S. Coast Guard but did not mention survivors. The Coast Guard referred further inquiries to Mexican authorities.
The strikes have drawn scrutiny, particularly after the Trump administration declared the U.S. at war with Latin American drug cartels. The first attack occurred on September 2, 2023, but controversy erupted in December when the administration confirmed a follow-on strike, or “double tap,” that killed two survivors of the initial attack. Some lawmakers questioned whether this constituted a war crime.
The Pentagon’s inspector general announced plans to review whether the military followed its six-phase Joint Targeting Cycle during the strikes, though the evaluation will not assess their legality. To date, only three people are known to have survived strikes and been rescued.
Operation Southern Spear, launched in 2023, aims to disrupt drug trafficking networks. The U.S. Southern Command has conducted multiple strikes this year, including one on May 2026 that killed two individuals identified as narco-terrorists. Another strike on May 2026 left one dead and two survivors, with the U.S. activating search and rescue protocols.