WASHINGTON — American military forces executed another attack Friday against a vessel suspected of drug smuggling in the Pacific Ocean’s eastern waters, resulting in three deaths in what represents the third such operation this week, bringing total fatalities beyond 200 individuals.
The military’s Southern Command revealed details of the most recent strike as part of an extended operation targeting suspected narcotics vessels moving through Caribbean and eastern Pacific waters, using standard terminology describing the boat as “engaged in narco-trafficking operations” and linked to a designated terrorist organization. No supporting evidence was presented.
Though military social media posts routinely feature attack footage, this instance appears unique in showing color video rather than the typical black and white imagery. The recording depicts a small watercraft floating on ocean waters before being struck and consumed by an explosive fireball. The footage transitions to what appears to be the burning vessel surrounded by a widespread field of packages or debris floating in the surrounding water.
This latest operation brings the cumulative death count to 202 individuals from the series of American strikes that commenced in early September, following two additional attacks reported on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Trump administration has announced that America is engaged in armed conflict with Latin American drug cartels, identifying them as responsible for narcotics flowing into American communities.
Southern Command stated in its X platform post that the strike occurred under orders from Gen. Francis L. Donovan, the senior U.S. commander for Latin America, who also conducted meetings with Cuban military officials near the U.S. Navy installation at Guantanamo Bay on Friday.
