U.S. military conducts lethal strikes on maritime vessels in the eastern Pacific

U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) reported lethal strikes on vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean on April 24 and April 26, 2026. Under the direction of General Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear targeted boats allegedly operated by terrorist organizations for drug trafficking. The strikes occurred as part of an ongoing military campaign that began in September 2025. Reports from the incident indicate that three individuals were killed in the April 26 strike, while two individuals were killed in the April 24 operation. According to AFP, these events bring the total death toll of the campaign to at least 185, while other sources such as Reuters have estimated the count at 170. SOUTHCOM claims intelligence confirmed the vessels were involved in illicit narcotics transit. The Trump administration has not provided public evidence to corroborate the links between the targeted vessels and terrorist organizations. The operation has faced scrutiny due to the lack of transparent evidence provided by U.S. officials regarding the nature of the targeted activities.