U.S. Reports 42nd Maritime Strike in Eastern Pacific, Says Three ‘Narcoterrorists’ Killed

Overview

• U.S. Southern Command said a Feb. 20 strike hit a vessel in the eastern Pacific that military intelligence tied to designated terrorist organizations involved in narcotrafficking.
• The command reported three men were killed and no U.S. personnel were injured, and it posted black‑and‑white footage showing the boat bombed and burning.
• Military tallies list this as the 42nd operation since September 2025 with 138 deaths, while some outlets report nearly 150 fatalities and dozens of vessels destroyed.
• Operations began in the Caribbean and expanded into the eastern Pacific, eased after the Jan. 3 capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, then resumed later in January.
• International law experts, human-rights groups and UN officials question the legality of the maritime campaign and warn some strikes may amount to extrajudicial killings.