US Strikes in Eastern Pacific

The U.S. military carried out another strike on what officials described as a drug-smuggling vessel in the eastern Pacific, leaving three people alive, according to U.S. Southern Command.

In a video shared Thursday on X, Southern Command said U.S. forces conducted what it called a “lethal kinetic strike” against a low-profile boat that it said was being used by groups designated as terrorists. The vessel was reportedly traveling along routes commonly used for smuggling operations. Authorities did not specify how many people died in the attack. Following the strike, Southern Command notified the U.S. Coast Guard, which then began search-and-rescue efforts for the three survivors, NBC News reported.

This operation marks at least the second such strike in the area this month. It is part of a larger campaign in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific that has included more than 45 similar attacks since September. Reports indicate that over 140 people have been killed during that period.

President Trump’s administration says the operations are intended to protect national security by intercepting drug shipments before they can reach the United States. However, some members of Congress and advocacy organizations have raised concerns about whether the strikes are legally justified.

During testimony Thursday, Gen. Francis Donovan, who authorized the most recent strike, told senators that the military will continue to use such actions when necessary. He also said that targeting boats alone is not a complete solution and explained that the military is moving toward a broader strategy aimed at countering drug cartels.

When announcing the strikes, Southern Command has said the operations are based on intelligence information, though it has not publicly provided specific details about that intelligence, according to The New York Times.

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