The United States Armed Forces have conducted a military strike against a vessel suspected of involvement in illegal drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Operative Information Center-OMM, citing the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), reports that the operation was carried out on February 20 by the "Joint Task Force Southern Spear" special unit under the direction of General Francis Donovan.
In an official statement shared on the command's "X" social media account, it was noted that intelligence data confirmed the vessel was moving along established drug trafficking routes. The operation resulted in the deaths of three individuals on board the vessel. No injuries were reported among U.S. military personnel.
US President Donald Trump has characterized such strikes as an integral part of the ongoing armed conflict with Latin American cartels and a necessary measure to stem the flow of narcotics into the country. However, official Washington has not yet provided extensive evidence regarding the specific links of the deceased individuals to terrorist organizations.
The U.S. Southern Command, headquartered in Doral, Florida, is responsible for providing contingency planning, operations, and security cooperation in Central and South America and the Caribbean. In recent years, the United States has significantly increased its maritime surveillance and interdiction efforts in the Pacific and Atlantic corridors to disrupt the supply chains of transnational criminal organizations. These operations often involve coordinated efforts between the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and international partners to maintain regional security and public health.
