The U.S. military has carried out another strike on an alleged drug vessel in the Eastern Pacific, killing one and leaving two survivors, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The strike was carried out Tuesday at the direction of SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan. Joint Task Force Southern Spear targeted a vessel the command said was operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SOUTHCOM said<\/a> intelligence confirmed the vessel was moving along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in drug trafficking operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One man was killed in the strike. SOUTHCOM described him as a \u201cnarco-terrorist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two other men survived the strike, according to the command. SOUTHCOM said it immediately notified the U.S. Coast Guard to activate the search-and-rescue system for the survivors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The strike was part of Operation Southern Spear, a campaign launched last 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 The operation has now resulted in at least 64 vessels struck, killing at least 202 people. Of those, 47 vessels were operating in the Pacific and 17 in the Caribbean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On June 16, 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\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/UGBRt9Mbdm<\/a><\/p>— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) June 17, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>