Offensive leaves 173 dead after new bombing of boat considered suspected of trafficking in the Eastern Pacific
The United States carried out the 50th attack on vessels in the Pacific and Caribbean on Tuesday (April 14, 2026). The Americans destroyed a boat in the Pacific Ocean, killing 4 people. The death toll in the military campaign against suspected drug traffickers is at least 173.
According to , it is the 2nd attack in 2 days in the region. The operation was publicized by Southcom (US Southern Command), which published a video showing the boat stopped before being hit and exploding.
Watch the video (16s):
On April 14, 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…
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom)
In a post on social media, the military command stated: “Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was transiting known trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was involved in drug trafficking operations. Four men linked to drug trafficking were killed in the action. No United States military personnel were injured.”
The agency stated that the vessel was sailing along known routes and was involved in drug trafficking, based on non-detailed intelligence information.
According to , the attack is part of a recent series of operations in the Pacific and Caribbean against vessels suspected of transporting drugs.
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.
The campaign began in September, months before the operation that resulted in that of the then president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, in January. He was taken to New York for drug trafficking and pleaded not guilty.
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