U.S. strike on alleged drug vessel leaves 3 dead in 4th straight day of operations

A new U.S. military strike on an alleged drug vessel in the Eastern Pacific has left three people dead, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). It is the fourth consecutive day of U.S. strikes on suspected drug traffickers in the region.

The strike was carried out on Wednesday 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.

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

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

This is the fourth day in a row that the U.S. military has carried out airstrikes on alleged drug vessels in the Eastern Pacific. Since Sunday, at least five vessels have been struck, leaving at least 14 dead, while one other survived, though their condition is not known.

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

Since the campaign began, 52 vessels have been struck, resulting in at least 175 deaths. Of those, 37 vessels were operating in the Pacific and 15 in the Caribbean.

On April 15, 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… pic.twitter.com/EaGDMHmpan

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) April 16, 2026