US Strike Kills 3 on Suspected Drug Smuggling Boat in Pacific
The US military destroyed a suspected drug-running vessel in the eastern Pacific on Saturday, killing three in the fourth such strike this week and bringing total deaths to 205.
According to New York Post, US Southern Command released dramatic footage on social media showing the moment American forces executed the kinetic strike, obliterating the boat in a massive fireball.
Gen. Francis L. Donovan, the top US commander overseeing Latin America, personally directed the operation, military authorities confirmed.
The targeted vessel was reportedly traveling along recognized narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was operated by a designated terrorist organization, US Southern Command stated.
Fourth Strike This Week
Saturday’s attack followed three previous operations against suspected drug smugglers earlier in the week, with strikes conducted on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Military officials confirmed no American service members were injured during Saturday’s operation.
Death Toll Climbs to 205
The latest strike brings the total death toll from the US military’s sustained campaign against alleged drug smuggling operations in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific to 205 individuals.
The aggressive interdiction campaign was launched in September as American forces established a substantial military presence throughout the region. The buildup preceded the January raid that resulted in the capture of Venezuela’s now-deposed dictator Nicolás Maduro.
The operations represent a significant escalation in American enforcement actions against maritime drug trafficking networks operating in waters off Central and South America.
With information from New York Post
