U.S. strike kills 1 on alleged drug vessel in Eastern Pacific; 2 survive

The U.S. military has carried out another strike on an alleged drug vessel in the Eastern Pacific, killing one and leaving two survivors, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).

The strike was carried out Tuesday at the direction of SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan. Joint Task Force Southern Spear targeted a vessel the command said was operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.

SOUTHCOM said intelligence confirmed the vessel was moving along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in drug trafficking operations.

One man was killed in the strike. SOUTHCOM described him as a “narco-terrorist.”

Two other men survived the strike, according to the command. SOUTHCOM said it immediately notified the U.S. Coast Guard to activate the search-and-rescue system for the survivors.

The strike was part of Operation Southern Spear, a campaign launched last September to target vessels allegedly linked to designated terrorist organizations involved in drug trafficking across the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

The operation has now resulted in at least 64 vessels struck, killing at least 202 people. Of those, 47 vessels were operating in the Pacific and 17 in the Caribbean.

On June 16, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known… pic.twitter.com/UGBRt9Mbdm

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) June 17, 2026

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