Ask Onix
US forces target alleged drug vessel in Eastern Pacific
The US military conducted an airstrike on a suspected narcotics smuggling boat in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of two individuals, according to US Southern Command.
Operation details and allegations
Southern Command stated the vessel was operated by groups designated as terrorist organizations and was traveling along known drug trafficking routes. The operation, part of Operation Southern Spear, did not result in any US military casualties.
The strike marks the second such incident in 2026, following a significant slowdown in operations after US forces detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in early January. Maduro has been accused by the Trump administration of collaborating with drug trafficking networks.
Campaign background and controversy
Since September, US forces have carried out at least 38 lethal strikes against suspected drug smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, resulting in 128 fatalities. The Trump administration frames these operations as part of a non-international armed conflict aimed at curbing drug flows from Latin America to the US.
"Our mission is to remove narco-terrorists from our hemisphere and protect the United States from the drugs that are killing our people," said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Legal and ethical concerns
Critics argue the strikes may violate international law by targeting civilians without due process. Legal experts have raised concerns over the legality of the operations, particularly following a "double-tap" strike on September 2, which targeted an alleged Venezuelan drug boat in the Caribbean.
Families of two Trinidadian men killed in a strike on October 14 have filed a lawsuit against the US government, alleging the operation amounted to "lawless killings in cold blood; killings for sport and killings for theatre."
Recent developments and scrutiny
Prior to Maduro's detention, US forces conducted 36 strikes over a four-month period in late 2025. The pace of operations has since decreased, though bipartisan scrutiny of the campaign's tactics and legal justification persists.
