The US military said it struck a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the Pacific, killing two people. The US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) posted on social media platform X on Monday that the attack occurred on Sunday against a vessel operating along long-established drug trafficking routes in the eastern Pacific.
SOUTHCOM stated: “Confirming intelligence indicated the vessel was actively engaged in drug smuggling. This operation is a clear and decisive reminder that SOUTHCOM is directly fighting drug cartels.”
A low-resolution black-and-white video accompanying the announcement shows a vessel moving on the water just before a large explosion. According to SOUTHCOM, under the direction of General Francis L. Donovan, the Joint Interagency Task Force West conducted a lethal strike on the low-profile vessel.
“We are committed to applying comprehensive pressure on drug terrorists – disrupting their operations, dismantling their organizations, and eliminating cartel-driven terrorism in the region,” General Donovan was quoted as saying. “We will not allow drug terrorists to operate with impunity in the Western Hemisphere, nor will we allow their deadly poison to reach American communities. This operation is a powerful testament to our precision capabilities, superior strength, and unwavering determination to defend the United States.”
The US military launched Operation Southern Spear in early September, with President Donald Trump asserting that Washington is effectively at war with drug cartels in Latin America. According to AFP statistics, more than 200 people have been killed in attacks in the eastern Pacific and the Caribbean since then.
However, the Trump administration has not provided verified evidence that the vessels attacked were involved in drug trafficking. Legal experts and human rights organizations have warned that these strikes could constitute extrajudicial killings. The US Department of Defense Inspector General said in May it would review whether the military followed standard targeting procedures, although the review would not consider the legal basis behind the attacks.
