U.S. Military Says Airstrikes on Three Vessels in Eastern Pacific Kill Eight

The U.S. military said on Tuesday it carried out airstrikes against three vessels in international waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of eight people, according to a statement from U.S. Southern Command.

In a post on the social media platform X, the command said intelligence assessments confirmed that the targeted vessels were traveling along known drug-trafficking routes in the eastern Pacific and were involved in narcotics smuggling operations.

The strikes are part of a broader U.S. military campaign aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks operating across the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, including areas near Venezuela. The operation was launched under President Donald Trump’s administration as part of an expanded effort to curb the flow of illegal drugs from the region.

U.S. officials said more than 20 vessels have been struck during the campaign so far, with at least 90 suspected drug traffickers killed during the operations.

The use of military force against suspected drug-smuggling ships marks a significant shift from the United States’ long-standing approach, which has traditionally relied on law enforcement and interdiction efforts rather than direct military strikes.

The Trump administration has sought to justify the legality of the operations amid criticism from some legal experts, who have described the strikes as potential extrajudicial killings.

Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson previously defended the campaign, telling reporters earlier this month that U.S. operations under Southern Command are lawful under both U.S. and international law and are conducted in accordance with the law of armed conflict.