United States forces carried out a strike on a vessel in the Eastern Pacific, killing three people, the United States Southern Command said Saturday.
In a statement, SOUTHCOM alleged that the vessel was operated by “designated terrorist organizations” and was navigating along established drug-trafficking routes in the region.
The command said no U.S. personnel were injured during the operation.
“On Feb. 20, 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…” the command said in a social media post.
Since September 2025, U.S. strikes targeting suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific have resulted in dozens of deaths, according to American officials, who say the operations are aimed at disrupting narcotics trafficking networks.
On February 17, U.S. forces struck three suspected smuggling vessels in the same maritime areas, killing 11 people, SOUTHCOM said.
“Late on Feb. 16, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted three lethal kinetic strikes on three vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.
Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known…” the command said in a separate post.
