U.S. SOUTHCOM says it killed 'three male narco-terrorists' in Eastern Pacific drug boat strike

"Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations," it says.

By Greg Piper

Published: May 30, 2026 7:54am

U.S Southern Command says it killed "three male narco-terrorists" Friday in a strike on a drug boat "transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific" that was "engaged in narco-trafficking operations," with no U.S. forces killed, in a post on X Friday night with video of the strike.

Commander Gen. Francis Donovan ordered Joint Task Force Southern Spear to conduct the "lethal kinetic strike" on the vessel, which SOUTHCOM claimed was "operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations." The command is "unwavering in its commitment to applying total systemic friction on the cartels."

The operation has killed about 200 people on 60 boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific since September, three of them in two strikes earlier this week, with two survivors, The Hill reported.