Five people were killed after the United States carried out air and naval strikes on vessels suspected of being involved in drug trafficking in the Pacific Ocean, according to US officials. The strikes were part of an expanding anti-narcotics campaign led by Washington, with the US Coast Guard now conducting search-and-rescue operations to locate any possible survivors who may have jumped into the sea during the incident.
US officials said the operation was conducted by the American military after intelligence indicated that the boats were being used for drug smuggling. In an official statement, the US Southern Command confirmed that its forces targeted three vessels believed to be operated by drug trafficking groups. The strikes were authorised under ongoing efforts to disrupt narcotics networks operating in international waters.
According to Southern Command, the first engagement resulted in the deaths of three individuals aboard one of the vessels. The remaining suspects on the other two boats reportedly abandoned their crafts by jumping into the ocean before follow-up strikes were carried out, which subsequently destroyed the vessels. The military said the boats were operating as a coordinated convoy and were linked to organisations designated by the US as terrorist entities.
Later the same day, Southern Command announced that a second operation had taken place, during which two additional vessels were struck. While the exact location was not disclosed, officials confirmed that the follow-up action resulted in a total of five fatalities. The command reiterated that the vessels were travelling along known drug trafficking routes and were targeted based on confirmed intelligence.
The US Coast Guard has since launched an active search-and-rescue effort to locate any individuals who may have survived and entered the water. According to Reuters, authorities believe that at least eight people may have jumped overboard during the operations. A C-130 aircraft has been deployed to assist in aerial searches, while other maritime units in the region have been directed to aid in recovery efforts.
This is not the first time such incidents have occurred during the current US anti-narcotics campaign. In October, two individuals survived a similar strike and were later returned to their home countries. In another case during the same month, Mexican authorities initiated a rescue mission after reports emerged that a person had survived a US strike, although that individual was never found.
The issue of civilian casualties and survivors has drawn increasing attention in recent months. In September, reports emerged that US forces conducted a follow-up strike on a vessel despite indications that people may have survived the initial attack, raising concerns among legal experts and human rights groups.
These operations are part of a broader escalation in the Trump administration’s strategy to combat drug trafficking. Since September, US forces have carried out more than 30 strikes against suspected narcotics vessels across the Caribbean and Pacific regions. According to official estimates, these operations have resulted in at least 110 deaths.
US officials argue that the campaign is necessary to dismantle major trafficking routes and reduce the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. However, critics, including legal scholars and Democratic lawmakers, have questioned whether the strikes comply with international law and US rules governing the use of military force.
The maritime operations are also unfolding amid heightened tensions with Venezuela. The US has increased its military presence in the region and intensified pressure on the government of President Nicolás Maduro. Earlier this week, former President Donald Trump claimed that the US had struck a location in Venezuela where drug shipments were being prepared, though US officials later clarified that American military forces were not directly responsible for that particular action. Trump has previously stated that he authorised covert operations by US agencies as part of efforts to counter drug trafficking networks linked to the Venezuelan regime.
