Video: U.S. Military Hits Two Drug-Smuggling Vessels In Eastern Pacific, Kills Five

The U.S. military carried out two strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Eastern Pacific within three days, killing five people, according to U.S. Southern Command.

The first strike took place on April 24 under Operation Southern Spear. U.S. Southern Command said Joint Task Force Southern Spear, acting under the direction of commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, targeted a vessel it said was moving along known narcotics trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and involved in smuggling operations.

Two men were killed in the strike, while no U.S. military personnel were harmed.

In a statement posted on X, the command said intelligence had confirmed the vessel was engaged in narcotics trafficking. It also released a short video showing a vessel at sea being struck.

A second strike followed on April 26 under the same operation, again targeting a vessel the U.S. military said was operated by designated terrorist organizations.

On April 26, 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… pic.twitter.com/br2znnUM1x

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) April 27, 2026

Southern Command said three men were killed in that attack. It repeated that no American personnel were injured.

The two incidents bring the reported death toll in the latest operations to five.

Reports cited by rights groups and observers say the strikes have killed more than 170 people since September, while other reports place the toll at at least 186.

Southern Command has said the targeted vessels were operating along known smuggling routes, but critics have pointed out the military has not publicly provided evidence showing any of the vessels were carrying drugs.

The Trump administration has defended the operations as part of an escalation against cartels moving narcotics toward the United States.

On April 24, 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… pic.twitter.com/FRHwqXsHm2

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) April 25, 2026

President Donald Trump has described the U.S. as being in “armed conflict” with cartels and has justified the strikes as necessary to disrupt trafficking routes.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have previously argued the attacks could amount to unlawful extrajudicial killings, questioning whether military force can be used in such circumstances.

The American Civil Liberties Union has also challenged what it called unsubstantiated claims used to justify some targets.

Videos released after both strikes showed small fast-moving boats being hit, followed by explosions and fire.

Maritime security observers say the use of lethal force against suspected trafficking vessels in international waters remains highly controversial, particularly when evidence tied to the targets has not been made public.

Reference: US Centcom