U.S. Conducts Three Lethal Kinetic Strikes on Narco-Trafficking Vessels in Eastern Pacific and Caribbean

​EASTERN PACIFIC AND CARIBBEAN - Late on February 16, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted three lethal kinetic strikes on three vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations at the direction of U.S. Southern Command commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan.

​SOUTHCOM Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting known narco-trafficking routes and actively engaged in narco-trafficking operations. Eleven male individuals designated as narco-terrorists were killed during the actions: four on the first vessel in the Eastern Pacific, four on the second vessel in the Eastern Pacific, and three on the third vessel in the Caribbean. No U.S. military forces sustained harm.

​The strikes represent the latest in a series of similar operations conducted by Joint Task Force Southern Spear in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility. Official reporting indicates consistent targeting of vessels assessed to be involved in illicit narcotics trafficking along established maritime routes in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean.

​U.S. Southern Command stated that the operations occurred late on February 16 under the direct authority of the SOUTHCOM commander. The strikes targeted three separate vessels confirmed by intelligence to be operating on known narco-trafficking routes and participating in narco-trafficking activities.

The actions resulted in the reported deaths of eleven individuals described as male narco-terrorists, distributed as four on each of the first two vessels in the Eastern Pacific and three on the third vessel in the Caribbean.

No details on vessel names, flags, or specific identifiers were released in the initial official statements. The operation aligns with ongoing U.S. military efforts to disrupt maritime drug trafficking networks in the region.

Official Statements

• U.S. Southern Command press release, February 17: “Late on Feb. 16, at the direction of the commander of U.S. Southern Command, Marine Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted three lethal kinetic strikes on three vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations. Eleven male narco-terrorists were killed during these actions, 4 on the first vessel in the Eastern Pacific, 4 on the second vessel in the Eastern Pacific, and 3 on the third vessel in the Caribbean. No U.S. military forces were harmed.”