Overview
- SOUTHCOM said Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted the Jan. 23 lethal strike in international waters of the eastern Pacific.
- Officials reported two fatalities and one survivor and said the U.S. Coast Guard was notified to begin search-and-rescue operations.
- The command said the targeted vessel was transiting a known narco‑trafficking route and was operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.
- Video released by SOUTHCOM shows the boat moving before being struck, catching fire, and sinking.
- The strike is part of Operation Southern Spear, a campaign reported to have caused more than 110 deaths since 2025 that faces legal and diplomatic scrutiny over the use of lethal force.