U.S. military strikes on vessels in the Pacific result in casualties

Since September 2025, the United States military, under the direction of Southcom commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, has been conducting a kinetic campaign against suspected drug traffickers in the Pacific and Caribbean. On April 11, 2026, U.S. forces carried out two strikes on speedboats, resulting in five deaths, followed by another strike on April 13 that killed two more people. The military, which classifies involved groups as terrorist organizations, has released declassified footage of these engagements. These latest incidents bring the total death toll of the campaign to at least 170. Critics, including UN officials and international experts, have questioned the legality of these actions in international and foreign waters, describing them as extrajudicial killings. The administration of President Donald Trump has yet to present conclusive public evidence linking the targeted vessels to illicit drug activities. Consequently, the legitimacy of the military campaign remains a subject of intense debate both within the United States and globally.