Southern Command action targeted a vessel that, according to the Trump administration, was linked to drug trafficking
The (United States Southern Command) carried out an attack against a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean that resulted in the death of two people and left 1 survivor. The action took place on Monday (9.Feb.2026) and was authorized by General Francis Donovan, who organized the organization last week.
After the attack, Southcom notified the US Coast Guard to begin search and rescue operations. This was the 3rd operation against vessels suspected of drug trafficking carried out in 2026.
The action is part of a campaign by the government of the President of the United States (Republican Party). According to the country’s authorities, the operations target drug trafficking from Latin America and the Caribbean, mainly Venezuela and Colombia. The initiative, which began in early September, has already recorded 38 attacks and resulted in 130 deaths, according to the newspaper.
The 11-second Southcom showing the vessel being the target of two explosions. According to a statement, the boat was “involved in drug trafficking operations” and followed a known smuggling route.
Watch the video (11s):
On Feb. 9, at the direction of commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking…
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom)
In addition to the survivor of this incident, only two other people have been rescued since September after US airstrikes. A 3rd person survived an attack on January 23 but was never found and was presumed dead.
Southcom has not released the identity of the victims or survivor, information about their current health status or details about search and rescue operations. No data was provided on the quantity of drugs transported by the affected vessel.
Experts critical of the operations say the US strikes constitute illegal and extrajudicial killings, as the military cannot deliberately target civilians who do not pose an imminent threat of violence, even if they are suspected of involvement in criminal activity.
