A new U.S. military strike on an alleged drug vessel in the Caribbean has left two people dead, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The strike was carried out on Monday 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
“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” SOUTHCOM<\/a> said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two people were killed in the strike. They were described by the command as male “narco-terrorists.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the campaign began, 56 vessels have been struck, resulting in at least 185 deaths. Of those, 39 vessels were operating in the Pacific and 17 in the Caribbean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On May 4, 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 vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/8S1feXpSiL<\/a><\/p>— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) May 5, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>