Three men were killed on Thursday after the United States carried out an airstrike on a vessel suspected of being involved in drug trafficking operations in the eastern Pacific Ocean, according to military officials.
The operation forms part of Washington’s ongoing anti-narcotics campaign known as “Southern Spear,” which was launched in September. The initiative is aimed at disrupting drug cartel activities across Latin America and key maritime trafficking routes.
In a statement posted on X, the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said intelligence reports indicated that the targeted boat was travelling along a route frequently used by narcotics traffickers in the eastern Pacific.
According to the military, the vessel was identified as actively participating in drug-smuggling operations before the strike was authorized.
“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” SOUTHCOM stated.
The latest attack marks the second such operation carried out by US forces within the week. On Tuesday, another suspected trafficking vessel was targeted, resulting in the death of one individual, while two others reportedly survived the incident.
Since President Donald Trump announced that the United States was effectively at war with powerful drug cartels operating throughout Latin America, military operations in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific have intensified significantly.
AFP data indicates that more than 200 people have been killed since the commencement of the campaign.
Despite the growing number of operations, the Trump administration has faced criticism for failing to publicly provide conclusive evidence linking the targeted vessels to drug trafficking activities.
Human rights organizations and legal experts have also raised concerns over the legality of the strikes. Critics argue that many of the individuals aboard the vessels appear to be civilians and may not constitute an immediate threat to US national security.
According to these groups, the attacks risk being viewed as extrajudicial killings if sufficient legal justification and transparent evidence are not presented.
The administration, however, maintains that the operations are part of broader efforts to dismantle transnational criminal networks responsible for moving large quantities of illegal drugs into the United States.
As the campaign continues, debate is expected to intensify over the balance between national security objectives and international legal standards governing the use of force beyond US borders.
