U.S. forces have killed 11 people in three airstrikes targeting vessels involved in drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean, the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced Tuesday.
“The Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted three lethal kinetic strikes against three ships operated by designated terrorist organizations,” SOUTHCOM stated on its X account, emphasizing that the operations were directed by SOUTHCOM commander, General Francis Donovan.
According to the command, intelligence confirmed that the ships were traveling along known drug trafficking routes and were involved in illicit narcotics operations.
Casualty details:
- Four people were killed on each of the first two ships in the Eastern Pacific.
- Three people were killed on the third ship in the Caribbean.
No U.S. personnel were injured during the operations, SOUTHCOM confirmed.
The strikes are part of ongoing U.S. efforts to combat drug trafficking and associated criminal networks across strategic maritime routes.
