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U.S. attack on alleged drug-smuggling boat leaves 2 dead, 1 survivor in eastern Pacific
The strike was part of Operation Southern Spear targeting narcoterrorists, with at least 157 killed in over 45 strikes since September, officials said.
On March 19, 2026, Joint Task Force Southern Spear, directed by Gen. Francis L. Donovan, conducted a lethal strike on a low-profile vessel transiting narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific, U.S. Southern Command announced on March 20.
Operation Southern Spear, launched on September 2, 2025, has killed at least 159 people in 46 incidents; the Trump administration calls the strikes aimed at deterring narcotrafficking and targeting 'narco-terrorists'.
A U.S. Coast Guard cutter recovered two deceased and one survivor and transferred them to the Costa Rican Coast Guard, while SOUTHCOM posted a video showing the boat exploding.
International law experts say the strikes likely amount to extrajudicial killings and could prompt prosecutions, while Democrats have demanded video release and the U.S. government has not identified those killed.
More than 45 strikes since September show the broader scale of the campaign in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, with Gen. Francis L. Donovan saying the military will pivot to a counter‑cartel campaign.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. forces attacked a vessel allegedly engaged in drug smuggling in the eastern Pacific Ocean, leaving three survivors, the U.S. military reported on Friday.