US strike on suspected drug vessel kills three in eastern Pacific VIDEO

US forces have carried out a new strike on a vessel suspected of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing three people, according to the US Southern Command.

The operation, which Southcom reported on X, is the third such strike within a week and forms part of a broader, months-long campaign targeting suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific region.

On May 29, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM 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… pic.twitter.com/ynibuPqDd3

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) May 30, 2026

According to the command, cited by Caliber.Az, the vessel was believed to be involved in illegal drug trafficking and linked to an organisation designated as a terrorist. However, no evidence supporting these claims has been publicly presented.

The latest strike brings the total number of fatalities from similar US operations since early September to 202, highlighting the scale of the ongoing campaign.

The administration of US President Donald Trump has framed these actions as part of a broader confrontation, stating that the United States is in an armed conflict with Latin American drug cartels, which it accuses of supplying narcotics into the country.

Southcom said the strike was carried out on the orders of General Francis L. Donovan, who commands US military forces in Latin America.

No further operational details were immediately released.

By Tamilla Hasanova