Key facts
- U.S. military conducted a lethal strike on a vessel in the Eastern Pacific on June 3.
- Two individuals described as narco-terrorists were killed.
- U.S. Southern Command confirmed the vessel was involved in narco-trafficking operations.
- No U.S. military personnel were injured.
- At least 207 people have been killed in similar operations since September.
The U.S. military announced on June 3 that it carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel in the Eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of two individuals described as "narco-terrorists." U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) stated that intelligence confirmed the vessel was operating along known narco-trafficking routes and was engaged in such activities. No U.S. military personnel were injured in the operation. This strike brings the total number of people killed in U.S. military operations targeting suspected drug-trafficking vessels to at least 207 since September, when the Trump administration initiated a campaign against cartel-linked trafficking networks. The campaign has faced scrutiny regarding its legal basis for using lethal force against suspected traffickers outside traditional battlefields. The Eastern Pacific and Caribbean remain key routes for drug trafficking, with cartels utilizing fast vessels. SOUTHCOM oversees U.S. military operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean, focusing on counter-narcotics missions.