The United States military carried out another lethal strike against a vessel suspected of involvement in drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of three people.
According to a report by The New York Post, the operation was conducted last Wednesday (18) and announced by U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).
According to authorities, the boat was operated by individuals classified as “narco-terrorists” and was allegedly traveling along known drug-trafficking routes. The action was authorized by General Francis L. Donovan and carried out by a joint task force dedicated to operations in the region.
This strike is part of a broader U.S. military campaign against drug-trafficking networks in Latin America, which has been intensified since September. According to estimates reported by the press, more than 200 people have already been killed in similar operations in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific.
The U.S. government says the targets are part of criminal organizations designated as terrorists and that the operations are intended to disrupt the flow of drugs into the country.
However, the campaign has drawn criticism from lawmakers and human rights organizations, which question the legality and transparency of these military actions on the high seas.
On June 18, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known… pic.twitter.com/22B31fjZUK
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) June 18, 2026
Photo and video: X @Southcom. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
