U.S. Military Conducts Another Strike on Alleged Smuggling Boat in the Eastern Pacific

On Friday, the U.S. military conducted another strike on a boat accused of drug smuggling in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The attack resulted in the deaths of three men and marked the third such operation this week. The overall death toll from these strikes now exceeds 200 people.

The U.S. Southern Command, responsible for military operations in Latin America south of Mexico and the Caribbean, announced this latest operation. They described the vessel as “engaged in narco-trafficking operations” and operated by a designated terrorist organization. No evidence was provided to support these claims.

The military’s social media posts traditionally feature video footage of these strikes. Notably, this is the first instance of footage in color rather than black and white. The video reveals a small vessel floating, which is then hit and engulfed in flames. The clip cuts to what seems to be the boat burning, surrounded by parcels or objects in the water.

Unclassified footage from the U.S. shows a strike on an alleged drug boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean on May 29, 2026, resulting in three fatalities.

According to the U.S. Southern Command’s post on X, the operation was directed by Gen. Francis L. Donovan, the leading U.S. commander in Latin America. Gen. Donovan also held a meeting with Cuban military leaders near the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay on the same day.

The attacks, which began in early September, have resulted in at least 202 fatalities. Earlier this week, two additional strikes were announced on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Trump administration has stated that the U.S. is engaged in an armed conflict with drug cartels in Latin America, accusing them of contributing to the drug flow into American communities.

The death toll increased slightly this week as some individuals previously reported by the U.S. military as survivors have not been located. Legal experts are scrutinizing the legitimacy of these boat strikes. The White House confirmed a report by the Washington Post that in the first attack on September 2, a follow-up strike, or ‘double tap’, was executed, killing two survivors. This action has prompted some lawmakers to question whether it amounted to a war crime.