A new U.S. military strike on an alleged drug vessel in the Eastern Pacific has left two people dead, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The strike was carried out on April 13 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIntelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,\u201d SOUTHCOM said in a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The two people who were killed were described by the command as male narco-terrorists. SOUTHCOM said no U.S. military personnel were harmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the campaign began, 50 vessels have been struck, resulting in at least 168 deaths. Of those, 35 vessels were operating in the Pacific and 15 in the Caribbean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Applying total systemic friction on the cartels. On April 13, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM<\/a> 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\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/zZQKEPiSoI<\/a><\/p>— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) April 13, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>