US Strike Kills 2 ‘Drug-Smuggling Terrorists’ On ‘Narco-Trafficking Vessel’ In Pacific

Last Updated:April 25, 2026, 14:52 IST

The latest action marks the 53rd strike since the campaign targeting boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific began last September

A US military strike on a boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Friday killed two “drug-smuggling terrorists", taking the total number of deaths to at least 182 in the ongoing campaign against individuals the United States accuses of drug smuggling at sea.

The United States claimed that this vessel was being operated by “designated terrorist organizations".

According to a statement by Southern Command, the operation was ordered by Gen. Francis L. Donovan of the Marine Corps. The announcement, shared on social media, included a 16-second video showing a boat floating in the water before it was struck and exploded.

The latest action marks the 53rd strike since the campaign targeting boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific began last September, reflecting a recent increase in the frequency of such operations. It was also the sixth strike carried out this month.

Experts on the use of force have criticised the operations, calling them illegal and describing them as extrajudicial killings. They argue that the military cannot intentionally target civilians who do not pose an immediate threat of violence, even if they are suspected of criminal activity. The Trump administration has not presented evidence to support allegations of drug smuggling.

Southern Command, which oversees US military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean from its headquarters near Miami, said the strike was based on intelligence inputs. It stated that the vessel was moving along “known narco-trafficking routes" and was “engaged in narco-trafficking operations."

News world US Strike Kills 2 ‘Drug-Smuggling Terrorists’ On ‘Narco-Trafficking Vessel’ In Pacific

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