Video/ US strike on suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Pacific leaves two people dead

Two people have died after the US military attacked a vessel suspected of transporting drugs in the eastern Pacific. This is the first operation of its kind carried out by the United States after a hiatus of more than two months.

According to the US Southern Command, SOUTHCOM, the intervention took place on Sunday against a vessel suspected of being part of drug-trafficking routes in the eastern Pacific. Authorities have not yet provided information about the identities of the two people killed or the amount of narcotics that may have been on board.

The action was carried out as part of the US operation “Southern Spear,” which began in September 2025 and targets drug cartels in the region. Data published earlier show that at least 67 vessels have been targeted in the campaign, while the number of people killed has exceeded 200.

President Donald Trump’s administration describes the fight against drug cartels as an “armed conflict” and labels those killed in these operations as “unlawful combatants.”

US authorities also support the position that the military may carry out lethal strikes without prior judicial proceedings, citing a secret opinion from the Department of Justice. This approach has been challenged by several members of Congress and human rights organizations, which are calling for suspected drug traffickers to be arrested and brought to justice.

Democratic Senator Tim Kaine has questioned the legality of these operations. He has claimed that some strikes may have killed people who had no connection to drug trafficking. Meanwhile, SOUTHCOM commander General Francis L. Donovan has defended the campaign, saying that the US military will continue applying pressure on the cartels and working to stop their activities in the region.

Full details of the “Southern Spear” operation continue to be classified by US authorities.