U.S. Southern Command forces destroyed two vessels in the eastern Pacific on Saturday, killing five suspected drug traffickers and leaving one survivor. The military confirmed the operation on Sunday, stating the vessels were intercepted along known transit routes.
Joint Task Force South carried out what the military described as "two lethal kinetic strikes" against the boats. Officials identified the targets as being operated by "designated terrorist organizations" involved in narcotics trafficking.
According to U.S. Southern Command, two men were killed and one survived the initial strike. A second engagement resulted in the deaths of three additional men. The military reported that U.S. forces immediately notified the Coast Guard to initiate search and rescue operations for the lone survivor.
No U.S. military personnel sustained injuries during the operation. The command released declassified footage showing the vessels moving through open water before being struck by missiles.
Escalating regional operations
The operation aligns with a broader U.S. military strategy to target drug-smuggling networks operating out of Latin America. Since September, the U.S. military reports it has killed at least 168 people during similar strikes against vessels classified as "narcoterrorist."
Officials have not released the identities of those killed or detailed the condition of the survivor recovered at sea. The military maintains that intelligence confirmed the vessels were actively participating in trafficking operations at the time of the engagement.
The strikes are part of a persistent campaign by the Trump administration to interrupt the flow of illegal narcotics into the United States. While the military continues to share combat footage to justify these missions, specific details regarding the individuals involved remain classified.