U.S. carries out new strike on vessel in Eastern Pacific, killing 4

U.S. military forces carried out a new strike against a vessel allegedly operated by a designated terrorist organization in international waters of the Eastern Pacific, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). At least four people were killed.

The strike was conducted on Wednesday when Joint Task Force Southern Spear launched the operation at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, according to a statement by SOUTHCOM. The command said intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route in the Eastern Pacific and was actively engaged in narcotics trafficking.

SOUTHCOM said all four people killed in the strike were male and described them as “narco-terrorists.” Officials did not release the vessel’s nationality or the precise location of the strike, stating only that it occurred in international waters.

On Monday, U.S. forces carried out strikes against three vessels operated by designated terrorist organizations in international waters of the Eastern Pacific, killing eight people, according to SOUTHCOM.

U.S. Southern Command has confirmed at least 27 maritime strikes across the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific since September, resulting in a total of 99 deaths. Based on confirmed operations announced by the command, 16 of the targeted vessels were operating in the Pacific and 11 were operating in the Caribbean.