New U.S. strike on alleged drug vessel in the Eastern Pacific kills 3

The U.S. military has conducted a new strike on an alleged drug vessel in the Eastern Pacific, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). The new operation left three dead.

The strike was carried out on Tuesday at the direction of SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, who ordered Joint Task Force Southern Spear to target a vessel the command said was operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations, according to a statement from the command.

“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” SOUTHCOM said.

Three people were killed in the strike. They were described by the command as male “narco-terrorists.”

The new strike was conducted as part of Operation Southern Spear, a campaign launched last September to target vessels allegedly linked to designated terrorist organizations involved in drug trafficking across the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

Since the campaign began, 57 vessels have been struck, resulting in at least 188 deaths. Of those, 40 vessels were operating in the Pacific and 17 in the Caribbean.

On May 5, 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… pic.twitter.com/CmK9HVK0oG

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) May 6, 2026