2 killed in new U.S. strike on alleged drug vessel in Pacific

A U.S. military strike on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in the Pacific killed at least two people, with one survivor, according to U.S. Southern Command.

The strike was carried out Thursday at the direction of commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan and targeted a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations, according to SOUTHCOM.

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

Officials said two people described as “narco-terrorists” were killed and one survived the strike. The U.S. Coast Guard has activated its search and rescue system to locate the survivor, according to SOUTHCOM.

The strike is part of a broader campaign launched in September targeting vessels allegedly linked to designated terrorist organizations involved in drug trafficking across the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific.

Since the campaign began, at least 39 vessels have been struck, resulting in 126 deaths, according to figures released by Southern Command. Of those vessels, 28 were operating in the Pacific and 11 in the Caribbean.

The previous strike was reported on Feb. 5, when Southern Command said it targeted a single vessel in international waters of the Pacific, killing two people.

On Feb. 9, 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/fa5vppjcCy

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) February 10, 2026