US strike on alleged drug boat in Eastern Pacific kills three in second attack this week

The US military on Friday (Feb 20) launched another strike against an alleged drug boat in the Eastern Pacific, killing three people. In a post on X, the US Southern Command said that the vessel was operated by “Designated Terrorist Organizations”. The strikes come as US President Donald Trump continues his campaign in the Caribbean and Pacific waters as part of a crackdown against alleged drug smuggling boats. The latest strike marks the second one this week.

“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 narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. Three male narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed,” US Southern Command wrote on X.

Earlier on Monday (Feb 16), the US military struck three alleged drug boars in the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, killing 11 people.

US President Donald Trump’s administration began striking alleged drug smuggling vessels in early September, claiming that it is effectively at war with “narco-terrorists” operating out of Venezuela. Since then, nearly 150 people have been killed while dozens of vessels have been targeted.

Despite mounting criticism over the legality of the US military action in the Caribbean and Pacific, the Trump administration has provided no evidence that the vessels are involved in drug trafficking.

Earlier in January, American forces seized Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, who has been accused by Trump of smuggling drugs into the United States.

On January 3, the US military launched Operation Absolute Resolve, in which they entered Venezuela, bombed Caracas and captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their presidential palace. While no US casualties in the operation, Havana authorities said that 32 Cubans were killed during the US attack on Caracas that resulted in the capture of Maduro. One Colombian was also killed. Trump has also warned Mexico, Colombia, and Cuba of a possible US military action.