US forces executed a kinetic strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing two individuals, according to the US Southern Command (SouthCom). The strike marks the first such operation in months and is part of a broader campaign targeting narco-traffickers, as reported by The Guardian and Fox News.

Alleged Involvement in Drug Trafficking

The vessel was reportedly engaged in drug trafficking operations along known routes in the eastern Pacific, according to SouthCom. A statement from the command confirmed the vessel’s active involvement in narco-trafficking. However, no evidence was provided to support these allegations.

General Francis L. Donovan, commander of SouthCom, stated that the US is committed to “imposing total systemic friction on narco-terrorists — disrupting their operations, dismantling their leadership and eliminating cartel terror across the region.” He added that the operation was a “powerful demonstration of our lethal precision, overwhelming capability, and absolute resolve to protect the US homeland.”

Rescue Efforts and Limited Assets

USSOUTHCOM activated its search-and-rescue system to locate one suspected narco-terrorist who may have survived the strike. However, US Coast Guard Capt. Patrick Dill stated that available assets were “extremely limited due to distance and range constraints,” leading to the suspension of the search on January 2. “Suspending a search is never easy,” Dill wrote in a statement. “Given the exhaustive search effort, lack of positive indications and declining probability of survival, we have suspended active search efforts pending further developments.”

The last kinetic strike in the eastern Pacific took place on December 31, 2023, when US forces targeted three suspected narco-trafficking vessels. The vessels were traveling in international waters and were allegedly operated by designated terrorist organizations. Officials claimed that those aboard transferred narcotics between the three vessels before the strikes occurred. Three narco-terrorists were reportedly killed on the first vessel, while those on the other two ships reportedly jumped out before the vessels sank.

Broader Campaign and Outcomes

The strike brings the overall death toll to 223 people killed in 67 strikes during the nearly year-long campaign targeting drug trafficking vessels off Latin America’s Caribbean coast and in the eastern Pacific. According to SouthCom, the campaign has resulted in the destruction of 64 speedboats, three “low-profile” ships, and a semisubmersible craft. The campaign was launched by the Trump administration, which described it as a strategy to combat “narco-terrorists” smuggling drugs into the US.

Despite these efforts, numerous reports indicate that the strikes have done little to stem the flow of drugs into the country. The latest strike comes as the administration pursues deals with allied nations to extend its offensive to land across multiple Latin American countries.

A pixelated black-and-white video posted to SouthCom’s X account showed the vessel moving through the water before it was struck by an explosion that produced a large flash of light.