WASHINGTON — The Pentagon announced that American military forces launched a fatal attack on a boat in the Pacific Ocean Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of three individuals suspected of drug trafficking activities.
According to a statement from U.S. Southern Command posted on social media, no American service members were injured during the operation.
This incident represents another in a string of similar military actions that have occurred over recent days, as the Trump administration maintains its aggressive campaign against drug cartels operating in international waters. Military officials report that these operations have resulted in at least 178 fatalities since the initiative launched in early September, occurring months prior to the January military operation that led to the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
In its official statement, Southern Command characterized Wednesday’s action as a “lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization.” Military officials indicated the targeted boat was traveling through “known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific.”
The military’s announcement did not specify which terrorist organization was involved, nor did it identify the three individuals who were killed in the strike or provide a more exact location where the incident occurred. Additionally, officials did not present evidence supporting their claims regarding the victims’ involvement in drug trafficking operations.
